Idiom
build on sand
Meaning
To put something in an unstable position by failing to give it a secure foundation.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“Their new business plan is built on sand.”
“A relationship built on sand rarely lasts for very long.”
“You build your future on sand when you ignore your health.”
“Because they ignored the basic legal requirements, the entire project was built on sand and soon collapsed.”
“If you try to learn advanced physics without understanding basic math, your knowledge is built on sand and will eventually fail you.”
“The manager realized the department's success was built on sand because it relied entirely on a single client who might leave.”
“The software company discovered their new app was built on sand after the main server crashed during the first week.”
“By basing his entire political platform on empty promises rather than concrete policy, the candidate ensured his campaign was built on sand.”
Examples
simple
“Their new business plan is built on sand.”
“A relationship built on sand rarely lasts for very long.”
“You build your future on sand when you ignore your health.”
contextual
“Because they ignored the basic legal requirements, the entire project was built on sand and soon collapsed.”
“If you try to learn advanced physics without understanding basic math, your knowledge is built on sand and will eventually fail you.”
“The manager realized the department's success was built on sand because it relied entirely on a single client who might leave.”
“The software company discovered their new app was built on sand after the main server crashed during the first week.”
complex
“By basing his entire political platform on empty promises rather than concrete policy, the candidate ensured his campaign was built on sand.”
Origin
From the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders in Matthew 7:24–27. The imagery concerns the inherent instability of a structure raised without a foundation, specifically contrasting one built upon rock with one built upon sand.
Key words
Related idioms
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