Get the ball rolling

BEGIN

["Hint: *Start a process or event.*\n\nThis hint keeps the focus on the action of initiation while avoiding the idiomatic phrasing of the original clue. It guides the solver toward synonyms of \"start\" without directly giving away \"BEGIN.\""]

The clue **"Get the ball rolling"** leads to the answer **"BEGIN"** through a combination of idiomatic meaning and direct synonymy. - **"Get the ball rolling"** is a common idiom meaning to start or initiate something. - The word **"BEGIN"** is a direct synonym for "start," making it the straightforward answer to the clue. There is no complex wordplay or pun here—just a clear connection between the idiomatic phrase and its equivalent single-word meaning. The solver recognizes the phrase's figurative sense and matches it to the appropriate verb.