déblayer

Déblayer means to clear away debris or rubble (déblayer les gravats après des travaux), and it extends figuratively to clearing the ground for something — déblayer le terrain, to pave the way or lay the groundwork before tackling a bigger task.

• Les pompiers ont déblayé les décombres toute la nuit. — Firefighters cleared debris all night.
• Il faut déblayer la neige devant la maison. — The snow needs to be cleared away in front of the house.
• Cette réunion a permis de déblayer le terrain avant la négociation. — This meeting helped lay the groundwork before the negotiation.

The figurative sense (déblayer le terrain, to prepare the ground for a discussion or project) is extremely common in professional French — learners who only know the literal 'clear rubble' sense often miss it entirely in a business or negotiation context.