gone to ground

Verb

go to ground (third-person singular simple present goes to ground, present participle going to ground, simple past went to ground, past participle gone to ground)

1. (UK, intransitive) Of an animal, to escape into a burrow, hole, etc. when being hunted.
   • The fox escaped from the hounds by going to ground.
2. (broadly, idiomatic) To hide from public view or sequester oneself, especially when authorities, members of the news media, or others are looking for one.
   • It was more than enough for my fugitives to clear out of the Lausanne station and make some new move, to hide away in an out-of-the-way spot, go to ground in fact, or travel in another direction.1906, Arthur Griffiths, chapter 11, in The Passenger from Calais
3. (UK, intransitive) To fall to the ground, lose one's footing, come off one's feet, whether by design, accident, or foul
   • There can never have been a more blatant voluntary tackle than the way the Saints captain Chris Joynt went to ground on the penultimate play of the game, to deny Bradford any chance of regaining possession after Sean Long's drop goal 30 seconds or so earlier.2002 October 21, Andy Wilson, “Lowes rages as Saints clinch title thriller”, in The Guardian
4. (UK, intransitive) (of the ball) to touch the ground; to be dropped
   • Ireland get the next put in. They could, and probably should, put the screws on the US now as their fitness and technique begins to tell. [...] Instead, the ball goes to ground as it wings its way down the Irish line. It doesn't go forward though, so they keep on pushing up the pitch.2011 September 11, Tom Bryant, “Rugby World Cup 2011: Ireland 22-10 USA - as it happened”, in The Guardian