anything goes wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything goes wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a situation where something may not proceed as planned or may encounter issues. Example: "We have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong during the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And if anything goes wrong you can't stop it.

The New Yorker

If anything goes wrong, she'll know exactly what it is.

The New York Times - Arts

Let's pass out those rings before anything goes wrong.

The New Yorker

If anything goes wrong, it will hurt China".

The New York Times

If anything goes wrong, who is to blame?

The Economist

If anything goes wrong, the director takes the blame.

The New York Times - Magazine

If anything goes wrong, no problem — you're covered by AppleCare.

The Washington Post

"If anything goes wrong, you put a new piece down.

The New York Times

If anything goes wrong they'll be the ones criticised.

The Guardian - Sport

"If anything goes wrong, they can go to court".

The New York Times

If anything goes wrong, I want to die quickly.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anything goes wrong", ensure the context clearly defines the scope of "anything". Be specific if possible to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "anything goes wrong" excessively in formal writing. Opt for more precise language like "if complications arise" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything goes wrong" functions as a conditional clause, typically introducing a potential problem or undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its use in a variety of contexts, indicating its grammatical correctness and broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anything goes wrong" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to denote potential problems or failures across various contexts. Ludwig AI validates this, highlighting its broad use in news, academic writing and general communication. While suitable for many situations, more formal alternatives like "if complications arise" may be preferable in highly professional settings. Always consider the specific context and audience when choosing this phrase to ensure clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if things don't go as planned

Focuses on the deviation from the intended plan instead of directly stating something went wrong.

if something malfunctions

Replaces "anything" with "something" and "goes wrong" with the more technical term "malfunctions".

if an error occurs

Emphasizes the occurrence of an error as the negative event, rather than something simply "going wrong".

if a failure happens

Directly addresses the possibility of a "failure" instead of something vaguely going wrong.

if problems arise

Substitutes the general concept of things going wrong with the more specific idea of "problems" arising.

if complications develop

Replaces the idea of something going wrong with the more formal phrase "complications develop".

if snags develop

Replaces "anything goes wrong" with the more informal term "snags develop", suggesting minor problems.

should any issues occur

Uses a more formal tone and replaces "anything goes wrong" with "any issues occur".

if something untoward occurs

Uses "untoward" to describe something negative happening instead of "going wrong".

in case of mishap

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise and formal expression indicating an accidental problem.

FAQs

What does "anything goes wrong" mean?

The phrase "anything goes wrong" means that there's a possibility of problems, errors, or failures occurring during a process or event. It indicates a potential for things not proceeding as planned.

What can I say instead of "anything goes wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "if something malfunctions", "if problems arise", or "should any issues occur" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "if anything goes wrong" or "if something goes wrong"?

Both "if anything goes wrong" and "if something goes wrong" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice depends on nuance; "anything" implies a broader range of potential issues, while "something" suggests a more specific concern.

How to use "anything goes wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "anything goes wrong" to express a contingency plan, such as "We have a backup plan in case "anything goes wrong" with the primary system".