soften the ground

present singular third person softens the ground · participle present softening the ground · participle past softened the ground · past softened the ground · alternative soften up the ground

1. idiomaticoftenTo prepare or create favorable conditions (for something), especially with the intent of improving public acceptance of the forthcoming occurrence.

   Bowen and the prime minister began to soften the ground for the tobacco tax hike on Wednesday in separate events in Sydney and Brisbane.

   2013 July 31, Katharine Murphy, “Australia: Tobacco tax expected to raise more than $5bn”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 02 Feb 2016

   2 more examples

   A steady rhythm of leaks and informed speculation prepared America for the President's Lewinsky confessional. . . . "The leaks definitely softened the ground for Clinton," says TIME White House correspondent Jay Branegan.

   1998 August 18, Tony Karon, “Who Knew?”, in Time, retrieved 02 Feb 2016

   Mr. Skolnik . . . has become the man you go to if you are on the left and want to leverage the power of celebrity and the reach of digital media to soften the ground for social change.

   2015 November 20, Alan Feuer, “Michael Skolnik Taps His Social Network to Fight for Civil Rights”, in New York Times, retrieved 02 Feb 2016