Hit the ground running
verb phrase
To make a quick and eager start; not waste time: Boot camp legislation hits the ground running/ The new Administration should hit the ground running (1950s+ Marine Corps)
Seize an opportunity; begin at full speed. For example, As soon as the front office gave its approval for the new department, we hit the ground running. The origin of this term is disputed. It may come from troops dropped into a combat zone, from stowaways jumping off a freight train as it nears the station, or from Pony Express riders avoiding delay when they changed mounts.
Read Also:
- Hit the hump
verb phrase To escape from prison, desert from military service, etc; go over the hill (1940s+)
- Hit the mark
see: hit the bull’s-eye
- Hit the sauce
verb phrase To drink liquor, esp rapidly and to excess; booze: If he keeps hitting the bottle they’ll have to dry him out (1889+) Related Terms hit the bottle
- Hit the pipe
verb phrase To smoke a narcotic, esp opium (1886+)
- Hit the sheets
verb phrase