feet on the ground
get one's feet on the ground
keep one's feet on the ground
have one's feet planted firmly in the ground
An understanding of what can be done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive.
John has his feet on the ground; he knows he cannot learn everything at once.
Ted dreams of sudden riches, but Henry keeps his feet on the ground and expects to work for his money.
Mrs. Smith was a dreamer, but her husband was a man with his feet on the ground.
fiddle around
fool around
play around
monkey around
To spend time playing, fooling, or joking instead of being serious or working; waste time.
Проводить время играя, дурачась или шутя вместо того, чтобы быть серьезным или работать.
If you go to college, you must work, not fool around.
The boys fooled around all afternoon in the park.
The boy spent the morning monkeying around with the old radio.
Мальчик провел утро, забавляясь со старым радио.
Sometimes I wish that Pat would stop fooling around so much and talk about something more interesting to others.
To treat or handle carelessly.
Bob cut himself by fooling around with a sharp knife.
Suzie says she wishes John would quit playing around with the girls and get married.
The teacher got angry because her students were fooling around and couldn’t finish their work before the end of class.
To work or do something in an irregular or unplanned way; tinker.
Jimmy likes to monkey around with automobile engines.
Alice is fooling around with the piano in her spare time.
from the ground up
From the beginning; entirely; completely.
After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the ground up.
Sam knows about baseball from the ground up.
The new cars have been changed from the ground up.
fuck around
To be promiscuous.
John fucks around with the secretaries.
To play at something without purpose, to mess around.
He doesn't accomplish anything, because he fucks around so much.
gain ground
To go forward; move ahead.
Двигаться вперед; делать успехи.
The soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground.
The toy company has been gaining ground in their effort to sell more products.
Компания по производству игрушек делает успехи в увеличении объемов реализации своей продукции.
To become stronger; make progress; improve.
The sick man gained ground after being near death.
Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground.
get around to
To do (something) after putting it off; find time for.
Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next Saturday.
get around
get about
To go to different places; move about.
Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington; Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York.
Fred broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches.
To become widely known especially by being talked about.
Bad news gets around quickly.
To get by a trick or flattery what you want from (someone).
Mary knows how to get around her father.
To find a way of not obeying or doing; escape from.
Some people try to get around the tax laws.
John did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he drank a lot of water before his physical examination.
get in on the ground floor
To be one of the first members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm, educational institution, etc.
Elliott got in on the ground floor and made a fortune at the company.
Mr. Smith who joined the new college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as its president after twenty years.