run aground

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Thân thiện
Definition

  1. Verb (intransitive):

    • To strike the seabed or shore with a ship's hull, causing the vessel to become stuck and unable to move.
    • To come to a halt or fail to progress due to encountering an obstacle or insurmountable difficulty.

  2. Verb (transitive):

    • To cause a vessel to strike the seabed or shore, making it immobile.
Usage
  • Intransitive Verb: The subject (usually a ship or boat) performs the action of becoming stuck.
  • Transitive Verb: The subject (e.g., a storm, a captain) performs the action of causing the object (a ship) to become stuck.
Examples
  • Intransitive Use:
    • The tanker ran aground on a sandbank during the night.
    • Our plans for expansion have run aground due to lack of funding.
  • Transitive Use:
    • The inexperienced pilot ran the boat aground.
    • The storm grounded the ship. (As per reference: "the storm grounded the ship.")
Advanced Usage
  • Figurative Use: Commonly used metaphorically to describe projects, negotiations, or ideas that have stopped progressing or failed.
    • The peace talks ran aground over the issue of borders.
    • His ambitious proposal ran aground in the committee.
Variants and Related Words
  • Ground (verb): To force or cause to hit the ground or bottom. Often used in aviation (to ground a plane) and maritime contexts.
  • Aground (adverb/adjective): Describing the state of being stuck on the bottom. (e.g., )
  • Strand: To leave someone or something in a difficult position, often similar to 'run aground' for vessels.
Synonyms
  • Founder: (of a ship) to fill with water and sink.
  • Strand: To cause a boat to become stuck on a shore.
  • Beach: To run or haul a vessel onto a beach.
  • Hit the rocks: To strike rocky ground (often used figuratively).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Run into: To encounter, especially a problem. (e.g., )
  • Run onto: Similar to 'run aground,' but less common. (e.g., )
Related Idioms
  • On the rocks: In a state of difficulty or ruin (often for relationships or plans); literally, for a ship that has hit rocks.
    • Their marriage is on the rocks.
  • Dead in the water: Completely unable to function or proceed.
    • Without the new data, the research project is dead in the water.
Verb
  1. hit or reach the ground
  2. bring to the ground
    • the storm grounded the ship

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