Sure! Let's break down the phrase "run aground."
Definition:
"Run aground" is a verb phrase that means to accidentally touch or hit the bottom of a body of water, usually when a boat or ship is sailing. This can happen when the water is too shallow, and the boat can’t move until it is freed.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "run aground" when talking about boats, ships, or even metaphorically when discussing plans or ideas that have stopped progressing or failed.
Example:
Literal Use: "The ship ran aground on a sandbank and had to wait for the tide to lift it back into deeper water."
Metaphorical Use: "Their business plan ran aground after they lost their main investor."
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced contexts, "run aground" can also refer to situations where projects or initiatives face unexpected difficulties or obstacles. For example, "The negotiations ran aground due to disagreements over key terms."
Word Variants:
Ground (verb): To cause to touch the ground.
Grounded (adjective): Describes something that is not able to move or operate, often used for ships that are stuck.
Different Meaning:
Synonyms:
Strand: To leave a boat or person in a difficult situation, usually where they cannot move.
Ground (in a different context): To bring to a stop or to restrict.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Run aground itself can be seen as a kind of idiom, especially in metaphorical contexts.
Run into trouble: This means to encounter problems, similar in meaning to running aground in a figurative sense.
Summary:
"Run aground" primarily refers to boats getting stuck on the bottom of a body of water but can also be used metaphorically to describe plans or efforts that have stalled.