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Glite Dictionary
without a hitch

without a hitch

19 3.2
With no problems and everything going smoothly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : sin problemas
  • My best friend had her wedding, and it went off without a hitch.
  • went without a hitch
  • came off without a hitch
  • proceeded without a hitch

All of that going on, all these intersections, all of it happening and all of it flows without a hitch.

Examples

  • You are going to make sure my latest project goes off without a hitch.

    Escape from Planet Earth (2013)

  • The wedding went off without a hitch, and sandwiches and board games followed the ceremony.

    Blog text (15)

  • The plan had gone off without a hitch.

    Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

  • Stick to the plan and it should go off without a hitch.

    Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (2009)

  • But let's make sure this runs without a hitch.

    London Has Fallen (2016)

  • All the necessary arrangements went off without a hitch.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I want your assurance that my son's wedding is gonna go off without a hitch.

    The Wedding Pact (2014)

  • The final round of the K-Pop World Festival 2012 went off without a hitch.

    Blog text (18)

  • I assure you tonight's program will go off without a hitch.

    Mallrats (1995)

  • The wedding ceremony was beautifully organized, and it went off without a hitch.

Synonyms

easily
vswithout a hitch
∞ 1.0

Without much effort

focuses on smooth success rather than simply low effort
smoothly
vswithout a hitch
173 2.3

In an easy, calm way without problems or embarrassment

emphasizes successful outcome rather than only even manner
effortlessly
vswithout a hitch
30 3.1

To do something without needing to try

highlights smooth success rather than absence of effort alone
handily
vswithout a hitch
18 3.0

In an easy way without trouble

puts emphasis on smooth success rather than on convenience
flawlessly
vswithout a hitch
16 4.1

In a way that has no mistakes

focuses on no problems rather than absolute perfection of result
swimmingly
vswithout a hitch
8 6.0

In a smooth and successful way without problems

is the common phrase focusing on smooth success rather than other details
without tears
vswithout a hitch
1 4.1

Easily and without crying or trouble

is used to stress smooth success instead of emotional freedom
faultlessly
vswithout a hitch
1 5.3

In a way that has no mistakes

means smooth success but not necessarily flawless or perfect

How Smoothly

flawlessly
16 4.1
without a hitch
  • Informal
19 3.2
seamlessly
25 3.8

Surface Forms

without a hitch positive

Morphology

without + a + hitch

The meaning 'with no problems' is directly derivable from combining 'without' (indicating absence) with 'a hitch' (a brief problem or obstacle); together they literally mean 'without a problem'. This is a standard, compositional English pattern and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Without a hitch comes from an old image of a hitch as a small knot or catch in a rope or harness that stops movement. If something happens without a hitch, it had no catch or delay, so it means 'with no problems'.