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game plan

game plan

71 3.7
A set of actions that helps a team or person reach a goal
  • noun
  • /ɡeɪm plæn/
translation icon : estrategia
  • Our game plan outlines the steps we need to take to reach our sales target this quarter.
  • stick to game plans
  • game plan or strategy

Whatever, whatever we talked about, the game plan is flexible.

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Examples

Synonyms

plan
vsgame plan
1.0

A set of steps arranged to reach a goal

emphasizes careful thought and strategic intent rather than mere steps
strategy
vsgame plan
3.7

A plan to reach a goal, often used in business or games

is a careful approach for any goal, not only competitive contexts
blueprint
vsgame plan
72 3.9

A detailed plan used as a guide to make or achieve something

focuses on a thought-out approach for a specific goal rather than design detail
course of action
vsgame plan
70 3.6

A plan of steps to reach a goal

is more deliberately thought out and focused on careful planning
playbook
vsgame plan
52 4.3

A set of planned actions used to succeed in business or politics

is a single carefully devised approach rather than a collection of tactics
master plan
vsgame plan
48 4.0

A long guide for how to develop and manage a city or campus over many years

is narrower and focused on a specific, carefully thought immediate goal
roadmap
vsgame plan
41 3.5

A plan that shows the steps to reach a goal

is more about an overall carefully thought strategy than step sequencing
grand scheme
vsgame plan
19 5.1

A very large, ambitious plan with many parts to achieve big goals

is a focused careful approach for a specific goal rather than grand ambition
road map
vsgame plan
18 3.5

A plan that shows steps to reach a goal

is a concise carefully planned approach rather than an extended step guide
plan of action
vsgame plan
13 3.4

A clear set of steps to reach a goal

is about a carefully thought approach rather than only detailed steps
battle plan
vsgame plan
  • Specialized
12 3.6

A plan for fighting that shows who will do what, where, and when

applies broadly to careful strategies for goals beyond military use
plan of attack
vsgame plan
11 3.2

A set of planned actions to solve a problem or reach a goal

is broader and used for overall careful approaches, not only problem response

Antonyms

29 5.6

An act of making or doing something quickly without a plan to solve a problem

7 3.8

A lack of order or system that makes things untidy

How Detailed

master plan
48 4.0
strategy
3.7
game plan
71 3.7
plan
1.0
idea
1.0

Surface Forms

game plan singular
game plans plural

Morphology

game + plan

The meaning 'a carefully thought-out strategy' is directly derivable from combining 'game' (a contest/situation requiring tactics) with 'plan' (ordered actions toward an objective), so the compound denotes a plan for achieving a goal. Although originally a sports metaphor, this extension is common and predictable cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun game plan comes from sports, where coaches make a game plan to decide how to play and win. That's why people use game plan today to mean 'a plan' or 'a strategy' for reaching a goal.