approach, blaze the trail, break ground, clear the way, court, create, cultivate, cultivate the soil, go in advance, head, head up, initiate, invent, lay the foundation, lay the groundwork, lead, lead off, lead the way, make advances, make up to, open the way, originate, pave the way, pay addresses to, pay court to, pioneer, play up to, precede, prepare the way, run after, shine up to, sow the seed, stand first, suck up to, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge