The English We Speak
18 December, 2012
Hit the ground running
Kaz: (Breathless) Hello, I'm Kaz.
Yang Li: I'm Yang Li. Hey Kaz, you're out of breath and wearing running shoes,
what's going on?
Kaz: Wait a minute Li (gulp for breath), let me catch my breath. Yes, I'm
wearing my running shoes because I've been running.
Yang Li: You've been running  why? Were you late?
Kaz: No it was because of something my boss told me to do.
Yang Li: Your boss told you to run to the studio  hmm strange.
Kaz: No no, she said "Kaz, when you start tomorrow's programme, I want you
to hit the ground running".
Yang Li: "I want you to hit the ground running"  sounds rather dangerous.
Kaz: Well, I thought I'd do it literally  you know, just for fun.
Yang Li: Oh I see. You thought you'd literally hit the ground running  so you leapt
off a fast moving bus and ended up running all the way to the studio!
Kaz: That's right, that's why I'm out of breath. I literally hit the ground running!
Yang Li: But I get the feeling your boss didn't want you to literally "hit the ground
running".
Kaz: You're absolutely right Li. When she said, "Kaz, when you start tomorrow's
programme, I want you to hit the ground running" she meant "When you
start tomorrow's programme, I want you to immediately work very hard on
it to make it successful".
Yang Li: OK. Kaz's boss wanted him to get today's programme off to a brisk and
successful start. She wanted him 'to hit the ground running'. I think Kaz,
you did exactly that. Let's listen to some more examples:
Examples
If you want to succeed in your new job, you'll need to hit the ground running, from day
one.
You guys will have to hit the ground running on this new project.
The English We Speak © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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The President promised that if he was re-elected he would hit the ground running on the
question of unemployment.
Yang Li: Kaz, the expression 'to hit the ground running' sounds American  is that
right?
Kaz: Yeah, I think you're right Yang Li but we're beginning to hear it more often
in British English
Yang Li: It's an American import then?
Kaz:
Yes, I think it is. You tend to hear it in connection with speed and efficiency
especially on new projects.
Yang Li: Great!
Kaz: But one thing's for certain Li.
Yang Li: What's that?
Kaz: On this programme we always hit the ground running!
Yang Li: You're right there Kaz. On this programme we always hit the ground
running! We always give it 110%! Bye!
The English We Speak © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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