Word
breeding ground
Definition
compound. a place or situation where something happens or develops very easily. While it often describes where animals have babies, it usually refers to where bad things like crime or ideas grow.
compound. a place or set of circumstances that provides ideal conditions for the development or proliferation of something, typically something undesirable. Originally a biological term for animal reproduction sites, now frequently used metaphorically in social and political contexts.
Examples
“The damp basement was a breeding ground for mold.”
“Social media can sometimes become a breeding ground for misinformation and heated arguments.”
“The economic instability of the post-war era proved to be a fertile breeding ground for radical political ideologies that eventually destabilized the entire region.”
Examples
simple
“The damp basement was a breeding ground for mold.”
contextual
“Social media can sometimes become a breeding ground for misinformation and heated arguments.”
complex
“The economic instability of the post-war era proved to be a fertile breeding ground for radical political ideologies that eventually destabilized the entire region.”
Usage
usually takes the preposition 'for' followed by the thing that is developing.
Teaching tip
highlight the shift from literal biology to figurative sociology; note that it almost always carries a negative connotation when used metaphorically.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/breeding-ground