break new ground
English
Verb
break new ground (third-person singular simple present breaks new ground, present participle breaking new ground, simple past broke new ground, past participle broken new ground)
- (literally) To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
- (by extension) To initiate a new venture, especially something never before attempted.
- 1962 October, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region: Central Lines”, in Modern Railways, page 280:
- One of the Birmingham R.C.W. diesel multiple-units on the Calder Valley service broke new ground on August 12 when it was enployed for a works excursion from Halifax to Windermere, [...].
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:innovation
Translations
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building
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To initiate a new venture
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