“have so much ground to make up”

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

“However, the disruption caused by covid-19 also creates a chance to make schools better than they were before (see Briefing). So many pupils have so much ground to make up that educators are pondering the most effective ways to help them do so.”[from The Economist]

I can only find the meaning of the phrase “make up ground”, which means “to move faster in order to come closer to someone or something ahead”

Does the phrase “have ground to make up” have the same meaning as “make up ground” ?

1 Like
2

Yes.

The students are behind because of the virus. Now they need to get to where they should be.

The definition “to move faster in order to come closer to someone or something ahead” can also apply to the students themselves. They are not trying to make up ground to come closer to someone else. They are trying to make up ground to come closer to where they should be.

to make up ground = to catch up

1 Like
3

Thank you NearlyNapping!

1 Like