common ground
common ground — noun
1. opinions, beliefs, or interests that two or more people or groups share, giving
opinions, beliefs, or interests that two or more people or groups share, giving them a starting point for agreement or cooperation even when they disagree on other matters
Despite their different political views, Sofie and Obi found common ground on protecting the environment.
find + common ground + on [topic]
The two companies discovered common ground in their commitment to reducing plastic waste.
discover + common ground + in [shared goal]
Finding common ground between parents and teenagers takes patience and honest conversation.
Camila and Kabir had no common ground at all, so their conversation remained awkward and brief.
There was enough common ground for the two groups to begin working together on the school festival.
- agreement
broader and more final; common ground is the starting point, while agreement is the result
- consensus
implies near-unanimity within a group, whereas common ground can exist between just two sides
- understanding
more informal and personal; common ground is more neutral and often used in formal or political contexts
- rapport
focuses on personal connection and harmony, while common ground emphasises shared substance
- disagreement
the absence of any shared basis for discussion
- impasse
a situation where no common ground can be found and negotiations stop
文法句型
find common ground on [topic]
common ground between [people/groups]
establish common ground with [someone]
用法筆記
Frequently takes the prepositions 'on' (to specify the topic) and 'between' (to specify the parties). The verbs 'find', 'establish', 'reach', and 'seek' are the most common collocates. 'Common ground' is always singular and uncountable.