run something into the ground—
1. treat smth. so badly as to destroy it:
- The new owner ran the business into the ground. He had no set hours, gave bad service, failed to pay his suppliers….
2. pursue or discuss a topic, etc. too much or too thoroughly (used showing disapproval):
- Hopefully, this news cycle will be short-lived as they are starting to run the story into the ground.
run something to ground—find smth. after a long search (also: run something to earth):
- After searching in many stores, he finally ran to ground the book he had spent so long looking for.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase run something aground—(Nautical) cause a vessel to become stranded at low water:
- The galleon’s crew purposely ran the ship aground on Catalina Island to escape the raider.