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to go according to plan

to go according to plan

33 2.4
To happen as expected
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : salir según lo previsto
  • If everything goes according to plan, we should launch the new product next month.

Things just don't go according to plan and things start falling apart.

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Examples

  • It's all going according to plan.

    Mad Dog Time (1996)

  • And if all goes according to plan, we will be here again next week.

  • So if all goes according to plan, this will be our Thursday episode right before the election.

  • Everything is going according to plan.

    Death Tunnel (2005)

  • Everything went according to plan.

    Bakgat 2 (2010)

  • If everything goes according to plan, the new version of the book will be out in early 2014!

    Blog text (19)

  • If the deal goes according to plan, they both walk away with a $15,000 profit.

    Blog text (9)

  • If things go according to plan, Francis, it will be somebody else's problem.

    A Good Year (2006)

  • And hopefully, if all goes according to plan, each turning of the tides will push a world changing electricity source onto our grids.

  • If there's one thing I've had to learn as a mom, things very rarely go according to plan or schedule.

    Blog text (26)

Synonyms

to stick to the plan
vsto go according to plan
21 3.0

Continue doing what everyone agreed without changing it

describes events unfolding as intended rather than continuous deliberate action
to stay on schedule
vsto go according to plan
3 3.0

To keep to the planned time for an activity without being late

is about events happening as intended rather than only punctual timing
to go as expected
vsto go according to plan
1 2.3

Happen in the planned way

is a slightly more formal phrase that emphasizes planning rather than expectation

How Smooth

to go according to plan
33 2.4
to go ahead
∞ 2.3
to go wrong
495 2.4

Surface Forms

go according to plan infinitive
went according to plan past
gone according to plan past participle
going according to plan present participle
goes according to plan third person singular

Morphology

go + according + to + plan

The meaning is directly compositional: 'go' as 'happen/advance', 'according to' as 'in line with' and 'plan' as 'an intended scheme', so the phrase literally means 'happen in line with the plan'. This is a common, cross-linguistic construction and follows standard English composition patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Go according to plan comes from the idea of things that go where a plan says, like following steps on a map. That's why it means 'to happen or develop as intended'.