be on one’s own ground—(also: be on home ground)
1. be in the area where one works or lives (with the implication that it makes a person feel confident and secure):
- Whenever possible he liked to make a point of talking to drug users on their own ground.
2. be competent in a subject because one is thoroughly familiar with it (with the implication that it makes a person feel relaxed and comfortable):
- And where he is on his own ground, as in the chapters dealing with family life, he exercises his well-known mastery of observation.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase stand one’s own ground—(also: hold one’s ground) maintain one’s firm position in an argument, etc:
- Perry discovered that he could stand his own ground and still be respected.
stand on one’s native soil—be in the land of one’s birth:
- I am looking forward to going back to France and standing once more on my native soil.