When you want to express the idea of “covering ground” in English, which often refers to making significant progress or covering a lot of distance or territory, there are several idiomatic expressions and phrases you can use. Here’s a detailed guide to help you master these terms:
1. Cover the Ground
The most straightforward way to say “cover the ground” is simply by using the phrase itself. It’s a bit formal and can be used in both spoken and written English.
Example: “We need to cover the ground on this project before the end of the week.”
2. Make Significant Progress
This phrase is a bit more general and can be used in a variety of contexts, not just physical ground.
Example: “The team has made significant progress on the project, covering a lot of ground in just a few days.”
3. Get Through
This phrase suggests that you have successfully made progress, often implying that it was a challenge to do so.
Example: “We’ve got through a lot of material today, covering quite a bit of ground.”
4. Tackle the Issues
When you’re referring to dealing with a range of topics or problems, you can use this phrase.
Example: “In the meeting, we tackled the issues and covered a lot of ground.”
5. Cover a Lot of Distance
This is used literally when talking about physical distance and figuratively when discussing the amount of work or information covered.
Example: “The marathon runner covered a lot of ground in the first half of the race.”
6. Get Across the Basics
When you’re talking about explaining or covering the fundamental points of a subject, use this phrase.
Example: “In the first lesson, we’ll get across the basics and cover a lot of ground.”
7. Hit the Ground Running
This is a metaphorical expression that means to start something with great energy and determination.
Example: “The new employee hit the ground running and quickly covered a lot of ground in their first few weeks.”
8. Get to the Point
If you’re trying to make sure that you’re not wasting time and are covering the ground efficiently, you can say this.
Example: “Let’s get to the point and cover the ground we need to discuss.”
9. Cover the Bases
This phrase is used when you’re making sure that all the necessary aspects of a subject or project have been addressed.
Example: “We’ve covered the bases and are ready to move forward with the project.”
10. Get Through the Material
This is similar to “get across the basics” and is used when discussing the process of learning or teaching a subject.
Example: “We’ve got through the material and now we can start working on the practical exercises.”
By using these phrases, you can effectively communicate the idea of “covering ground” in English, whether you’re talking about a physical journey, a project, or simply getting through a list of topics.