not get off the ground

1. Of an aircraft, to be unable to lift up off the ground and remain in flight. You want us to fly in this rickety old plane? I bet this thing won't even get off the ground!

2. To cause an aircraft to lift up off the ground in sustained flight. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." Because of the damage to the wing, I couldn't get the plane off the ground.

3. To fail to get underway; to not reach a point of stable or self-sufficient progress or development. We started developing an idea for an app that would link all our services together, but it never got off the ground. The program can't get off the ground if it isn't given the appropriate resources to gain traction and attract new members.

4. To fail to get something underway; to be unable to bring something to a point of stable or self-sufficient progress or development. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." A: "How's Tom's novel coming?" B: "Oh, it's just another silly pet project that he never got off the ground." I heard their new company flopped. Even with that huge financial investment, they still couldn't get it off the ground.