lay the groundwork

Meaning: (idiomatic,figurative)To create afoundation; to provide thebasicsorfundamentals.The introductory mathematics courses willlay the groundworkfor all your subsequent engineering studies.2014November 27, Ian Black, “Courts kept busy as Jordan works to crush support for Isis”, inThe Guardian:Arrests and prosecutions intensified after Isis captured Mosul in June, but thegroundwork had been laidby an earlier amendment to Jordan’s anti-terrorism law. It is estimated that 2,000 Jordanians have fought and 250 of them have died in Syria – making them the third largest Arab contingent in Isis after Saudi Arabians and Tunisians.

Examples:

EN: Marines lay the groundwork and the Army takes over.
ES: Es la regla. Los marines hacen el trabajo, y la armada se apropia.
EN: We know the town. We lay the groundwork.
ES: Conocemos el pueblo.
EN: A psychiatrist doesn't lay the groundwork.
ES: Un psiquiatra no establece fundamentos.
EN: I have to think that Gen. Milan Astray could lay the groundwork for a psychology of the masses.
ES: Sufro al pensar que el Gral. Milan Astray podría sentar las bases de una psicología de "masa".
EN: I'll lay the groundwork between now and when you get out, so you can be looking forward to a jolly good time
ES: Allanaré el terreno a partir de ahora hasta que salgas, para que tengas una buena vida ahí fuera.
EN: You gotta lay the groundwork first... break down their natural resistance... reestablish the passion.
ES: Tienes que preparar el terreno primero... romper su resistencia natural. Reestablecer la pasión.
EN: We felt as though it was our job to lay the groundwork for these kids to have... as a place to really develop their careers in singing because we had the experience.
ES: Nosotros hacíamos el trabajo preliminar... para que los jóvenes pudieran desarrollar sus carreras de cantantes. Porque teníamos la experiencia;
EN: Then get them all together and lay the groundwork for a reconciliation.
ES: Reunirlos a todos y sentar las bases para una reconciliación.
EN: Hopefully we can lay the groundwork for further diplomatic negotiations, which will eventually result in an amicable trade for the naquadria.
ES: Esperemos que podamos sentar las bases para futuras negociaciones diplomáticas que con el tiempo se traduzcan en un intercambio de naquadria.
EN: As 34 nations of the western hemisphere gathered to draft a far reaching trade agreement, one that would lay the groundwork to privatize every resource and service imaginable, thousands of people from hundreds of grassroots organizations joined to oppose it.
ES: Mientras 34 naciones de Occidente se reunían para discutir un acuerdo comercial que sentara las bases para privatizar todos los servicios imaginables, cientos de personas de miles de organizaciones se reunieron para oponerse.
EN: As always. You'll leave next week for Thessaloniki, lay the groundwork, and tell me when it will happen.
ES: Te vas en 4 días a Salónica, preparas el terreno y me dices cuándo será.
EN: Okay, so lay the groundwork, set it up for later.
ES: No pero sigue hablándole y prepara el terreno.
EN: You can lay the groundwork for that now.
ES: Ha de dejar que las cosas sigan su curso, de momento
EN: Look, a forensic autopsy is gonna lay the groundwork for a pattern of abuse.
ES: La autopsia forense va a ser el trabajo preliminar para establecer un patrón de abuso.
EN: You know, I did lay the groundwork.
ES: Ya sabes, yo senté las bases.

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