English idiom

grass roots movement

Register · Neutral CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

a movement started and driven by ordinary people rather than leaders or organizations

Why this phrase?

From the roots of grass at ground level; figuratively means starting with ordinary people.

Example

“The campaign began as a grass-roots movement in small towns.”

Dictionary details

Tags

society

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

rat race

the exhausting, competitive struggle to keep up at work and get ahead

behind the scenes

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

the man/woman in the street

an ordinary, average person

walk of life

a person's occupation, social position, or general way of living

above one's station

behaving as if you belong to a higher social class or rank than you do

joe public

the ordinary, average member of the public

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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