foundation

lay a/the foundation(s)

1. Literally, to construct the supportive structure that will undergird a building. In this usage, only the singular "foundation" is used. After all the delays we've had, please tell me the contractors are laying the foundation today.

2. To state, outline, or create the fundamental basis (for something). Opposing counsel is going to lay the foundation of their case today and then build on it as the trial goes on. Our first project already laid a foundation for us. Now we can take that content and repurpose it for our new idea. Rosalind Franklin's vital work in X-ray crystallography laid the foundations for Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA double helix.

See also: lay

lay a/the foundation(s) for (something)

1. Literally, to construct the supportive structure that will undergird a building. In this usage, only the singular "foundation" is used. After all the delays we've had, please tell me the contractors are laying the foundation for the house today.

2. To state, outline, or create the fundamental basis for something. Opposing counsel is going to lay the foundation for their case today and then build on it as the trial goes on. Rosalind Franklin's vital work in X-ray crystallography laid the foundations for Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA double helix.

See also: for, lay

lay the foundation(s) of (something)

1. Literally, to construct the supportive structure that will undergird a building. In this usage, only the singular "foundation" is used. After all the delays we've had, please tell me the contractors are laying the foundation of the house today. If you don't lay a foundation

2. To state, outline, or create the fundamental basis for something. Opposing counsel is going to lay the foundation of their case today and then build on it as the trial goes on. Rosalind Franklin's vital work in X-ray crystallography laid the foundations of Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA double helix.

See also: lay, of

rock (something) to its foundations

To impact something in a way that affects its very essence, especially concerning its values or beliefs. The election of the outsider candidate rocked the party to its foundations, and led to a lot of soul-searching among its members.

See also: foundation, rock, to

rock the foundations of (something)

To impact something in a way that affects its very essence, especially concerning its values or beliefs. The death of her son rocked the foundations of her beliefs. The election of the outsider candidate rocked the foundations of the party, and led to a lot of soul-searching among its members.

See also: foundation, of, rock

shake (something) to its foundations

To impact something in a way that affects its very essence, especially concerning its values or beliefs. The election of the outsider candidate shook the party to its foundations, and led to a lot of soul-searching among its members.

See also: foundation, shake, to

shake (something) to the foundations

To impact something in a way that affects its very essence, especially concerning its values or beliefs. The election of the outsider candidate shook the party to the foundations, and led to a lot of soul-searching among its members.

See also: foundation, shake, to

shake the foundations of (something)

To impact something in a way that affects its very essence, especially concerning its values or beliefs. The death of her son shook the foundations of her beliefs. The election of the outsider candidate shook the foundations of the party, and led to a lot of soul-searching among its members.

See also: foundation, of, shake

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

shake something to the foundations

or

shake something to its foundations

If someone or something shakes something to the foundations or shakes it to its foundations, they damage it, change it or shock it very much. Her faith, which had been so strong, was shaken to the foundations. When an American president is forced to resign, the country is shaken to its foundations. Note: The verb rock is sometimes used instead of shake. The music industry was rocked to its foundations last night when it was revealed that the Midlands' top live music venue was to close.

See also: foundation, shake, something, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

shake/rock the ˈfoundations of something

,

shake/rock something to its ˈfoundations

cause people to question their basic beliefs about something: This issue has shaken the very foundations of French politics.

See also: foundation, of, rock, shake, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017