soften the ground

• soften up the ground

soften the ground

1. (idiomatic, often followed by for) To prepare or create favorable conditions (for something), especially with the intent of improving public acceptance of the forthcoming occurrence.
   • 1998 August 18, Tony Karon, "Who Knew?," Time (retrieved 2 Feb 2016):

     A steady rhythm of leaks and informed speculation prepared America for the President's Lewinsky confessional. . . . "The leaks definitely softened the ground for Clinton," says TIME White House correspondent Jay Branegan.

   • 2013 July 31, Katharine Murphy, "Australia: Tobacco tax expected to raise more than $5bn," Guardian (UK) (retrieved 2 Feb 2016):

     Bowen and the prime minister began to soften the ground for the tobacco tax hike on Wednesday in separate events in Sydney and Brisbane.

   • 2015 Nov. 20, Alan Feuer, "Michael Skolnik Taps His Social Network to Fight for Civil Rights," New York Times (retrieved 2 Feb 2016):

     Mr. Skolnik . . . has become the man you go to if you are on the left and want to leverage the power of celebrity and the reach of digital media to soften the ground for social change.

• pave the way