Noun
lost ground (uncountable)
A portion of a lead or advantage that has been subsequently lost.
It lost ground from contempt more than from hatred; and was rather jeered at as an ass, than dreaded as a lion. This is the general character of aristocracy, or what are called Nobles or Nobility, or rather No-ability, in all countries. Thomas Paine
The Nationals tried hard to recover the lost ground. The final result, however, was the success of the Forest Citys by a score of 29 to 23 in a nine innings game, twice interrupted by rain. Henry Chadwick
Every day you spend drifting away from your goals is a waste not only of that day, but also of the additional day it takes to regain lost ground. Ralph Marston