Meaning of Idiom ‘Hit the Ground Running’
To hit the ground running means to start a new activity immediately and energetically with speed and enthusiasm; to be able to begin an activity effectively right from the beginning, with no need for preparation or adjustment; to be able to seize an opportunity with vigor.
Examples Of Use
“With your experience, you’ll be able to hit the ground running.”
“We need to be able to hit the ground running as soon as we get funding for the project.”
“I have a big job coming up but after this vacation, I’ll be able to hit the ground running.”
“I don’t have time to train a new employee. I need someone who can hit the ground running.”
Origin of Hit the Ground Running
American in origin, this idiom has been used since the mid-1900s. Its precise origin is unknown but several theories have been proposed:
It may have originated during World War II, referring to troops such as paratroopers being dropped into a combat zone, whether by parachute or from helicopters, where they were instructed to start running as soon as their feet touched the ground or ‘to hit the ground running.’
Another theory is that it came from hoboes riding trains and jumping off as the train slows near a station so that they would not be discovered. This required them to hit the ground running.
A third theory is that it derived from Pony Express riders who would ‘hit the ground running’ when changing horses so as not to cause any delays. A similar theory claims that the idiom comes from rodeo riders who needed to get up and run away quickly after being thrown from a horse, to avoid being injured by the angry steed. 1
- Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.