Plan Related Idioms (With Meaning and Examples)

Welcome to our post about fun expressions called idioms! These phrases help make talking and writing more interesting.

Plan Idioms

Here are 20 plan idioms in English.

1. Back to the drawing board

Meaning: Start over again
Example: The app failed, time to back to the drawing board.

2. Plan B

Meaning: An alternative strategy
Example: If it rains, we’ll use Plan B for our picnic.

3. Game plan

Meaning: A strategy or plan
Example: Let’s discuss our game plan for the meeting.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: Rely on one single plan
Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket with that investment.

5. Cross that bridge when you come to it

Meaning: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary
Example: We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

6. Up in the air

Meaning: Not yet determined or resolved
Example: Our holiday plans are still up in the air.

7. On the back burner

Meaning: Delayed or paused for now
Example: Let’s put that idea on the back burner.

8. Set the wheels in motion

Meaning: Start a process
Example: It’s time to set the wheels in motion for the project.

9. Lay the groundwork

Meaning: Prepare the basics or foundation
Example: We need to lay the groundwork before launching.

10. In the pipeline

Meaning: Being planned or developed
Example: There are new ideas in the pipeline.

11. Draw up a plan

Meaning: To make a detailed plan
Example: We need to draw up a plan by tomorrow.

12. Make headway

Meaning: Make progress
Example: We are starting to make headway on the project.

13. Go according to plan

Meaning: Happen as planned
Example: Everything went according to plan.

14. Hit the ground running

Meaning: Start something energetically
Example: We need to hit the ground running with the launch.

15. Throw a wrench in the works

Meaning: Cause a disruption
Example: The power outage threw a wrench in the works.

16. Pencil something in

Meaning: Tentatively schedule
Example: Let’s pencil in a meeting for next week.

17. Iron out the kinks

Meaning: Resolve small problems
Example: We need to iron out the kinks in our plan.

18. Cook up a plan

Meaning: Devise a plan, often quickly or inventively
Example: Let’s cook up a plan for the surprise party.

19. By the book

Meaning: Following plans or rules exactly
Example: She does everything by the book.

20. Cut to the chase

Meaning: Get to the point without wasting time
Example: Can you cut to the chase and show us the plans?

Read More:

Adjectives for Plan

Battle Idioms

Plan Idioms