Get in on the Ground Floor – Idiom, Meaning & Origin

The phrase get in on the ground floor means to get involved with a venture or project at its early stages, usually with the hope that you’ll gain future benefits. But how did a phrase involving a building’s ground floor come to represent a business opportunity? There’s actually more to it. So, let’s climb the stairs of this idiom and see where it takes us.

Is It Get in on the Ground Floor or Get It on the Ground Floor?

First off, I need to clarify that the correct phrase is get in on the ground floor, not get it on the ground floor. It’s all about “getting in,” meaning involving yourself, not “getting it,” which is just confusing.

Get in on the Ground Floor Idiom Meaning

You’ll find the phrase used mostly in the world of business and investments. It suggests joining or investing in a venture at the beginning or at its earliest stages so you get a chance to learn, grow and benefit as the project or company grows.

Getting in on the ground floor of something means you’ll always have seniority and are far more likely to have an influence and say in how things develop.

When I first began my author career, I created my own PR team, aka a team of dedicated readers, to help share my books online. They got in on the ground floor when I was first starting out, so they got to witness behind-the-scenes stuff, got a say in a lot of things such as cover designs and character names, and now they get early editions and ARC copies before anyone else in the world. That’s the benefit of getting in on the ground floor of something.

Origin and Etymology of Get in on the Ground Floor

The phrase comes from American English and goes back to sometime in the late 1800s, a time when the world was experiencing significant economic growth. High-rise buildings started to appear, and business ventures were often associated with these skyscrapers. The ground floor symbolizes the beginning or the start, just like the start of a business or venture.

Get in on the Ground Floor Synonyms

• Starting at the beginning
• Join from the start
• Get in early
• Be part of something from its inception
• Start from scratch

Get in on the Ground Floor Examples in a Sentence

• He got in on the ground floor of the tech startup and now is a senior executive.
• Getting in on the ground floor allowed her to shape the company’s culture from the start.
• If you can get in on the ground floor of this investment, there are potentially high returns.
• They got in on the ground floor and helped build the organization from the bottom up.
• You should get in on the ground floor of this project; it’s going to be big.
• We got in on the ground floor and have been with the company since its inception.
• She didn’t just join the company; she got in on the ground floor.
• The chance to get in on the ground floor of a new venture can be an exciting opportunity.
• I got in on the ground floor, and now I’m a partner in the business.
• By getting in on the ground floor, he was able to learn every aspect of the operation.

From Ground Floor to Success

Holy moly! You’ve unlocked another idiom — getting in on the ground floor. It’s not about elevators or architectural design; it’s about seizing opportunities from the start. Stay tuned for even more fun idiom guides like this to keep climbing the floors of language proficiency, one phrase at a time!