plant/sow the seeds of
idiom
1
: to cause (an idea, feeling, etc.) to be in someone's mind
Opponents have succeeded in planting/sowing the seeds of suspicion/doubt in our team.
2
: to create a situation in which (something) is likely or certain to happen or develop
They have planted/sowed the seeds of their own destruction.
Examples of plant/sow the seeds of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These three elements not only fuel individual setbacks but also sow the seeds of systemic errors, which are human-designed.
—
David Deane-Spread, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Job Dissatisfaction: Unhappiness with one's role, heavy workloads, and a lack of career progression or purpose can sow the seeds of discontent.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Concurrently, investments in employee development, recognition, and well-being sow the seeds of a thriving work culture, bolstering morale and productivity.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
About 15 people showed up to Sunday’s potluck looking to sow the seeds of friendship — and eat collard greens, smoked turkey, pumpkin pie and chocolate fudge cake.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Dec. 2023
Artists failed spectacularly to sow the seeds of compassion, to nurture fragile blooms of culture and the fruit of ethical awareness never had a chance to ripen.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
But living abroad in countries that were rich in natural beauty but otherwise poor also helped sow the seeds of Smith’s ultimate underlying mission for the gear maker.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023
Closer ties, however, also fed Chinese suspicions that the Americans intended to sow the seeds of dissent in China and eventually topple the CCP.
—Wang Jisi, Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2021
These problems are not solved by armed agents of the state or by prisons, which sow the seeds of more poverty and alienation, while absorbing billions of dollars that might otherwise be spent on public welfare.
—Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 7 May 2021
David Deane-Spread, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Job Dissatisfaction: Unhappiness with one's role, heavy workloads, and a lack of career progression or purpose can sow the seeds of discontent.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Concurrently, investments in employee development, recognition, and well-being sow the seeds of a thriving work culture, bolstering morale and productivity.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
About 15 people showed up to Sunday’s potluck looking to sow the seeds of friendship — and eat collard greens, smoked turkey, pumpkin pie and chocolate fudge cake.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Dec. 2023
Artists failed spectacularly to sow the seeds of compassion, to nurture fragile blooms of culture and the fruit of ethical awareness never had a chance to ripen.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
But living abroad in countries that were rich in natural beauty but otherwise poor also helped sow the seeds of Smith’s ultimate underlying mission for the gear maker.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023
Closer ties, however, also fed Chinese suspicions that the Americans intended to sow the seeds of dissent in China and eventually topple the CCP.
—Wang Jisi, Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2021
These problems are not solved by armed agents of the state or by prisons, which sow the seeds of more poverty and alienation, while absorbing billions of dollars that might otherwise be spent on public welfare.
—Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 7 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plant/sow the seeds of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Plant/sow the seeds of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plant%2Fsow%20the%20seeds%20of. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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