derail your plans

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "derail your plans" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an event or action that disrupts or prevents someone from achieving their intended goals or schedule. Example: "The unexpected storm could derail your plans for the outdoor wedding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A train strike or a simple road work can derail your plans.

WikiHow

Don't let a simple oversight derail your plans so late in the game!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Maybe some unforeseen event derailed your plans.

Huffington Post

Could you recover or would it derail your retirement plans?

The New York Times

Enough unruly women can derail your election plans.

Huffington Post

The recession had derailed your earlier plans.

The New York Times

"The risk of changing your strategy when it's being tested as opposed to changing it when it's not being tested is you risk derailing your long-term investment plan," said Gregg Fisher, president and chief investment officer of Gerstein Fisher, a wealth management firm in New York.

The New York Times

If you feel that your presentation calls for a question and answer period and that you can effectively make time for one without derailing your presentation, then you should plan for having a question and answer period after you've given the body of your presentation -- but before the closing.

WikiHow

Workout While You Wait Don't let a flight delay derail your fitness plan.

Huffington Post

The time and cost can derail retirement plans.

The Economist

Events beyond Mr Persson's control could derail his plans.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing unexpected events or obstacles, use "derail your plans" to emphasize how these factors can significantly alter intended outcomes.

Common error

While "derail your plans" is acceptable, it might sound less formal in highly professional settings. Opt for alternatives like "impede your progress" or "hinder your objectives" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "derail your plans" functions as a verb phrase that signifies the disruption or prevention of someone's intended actions or objectives. Ludwig's examples show its common usage in describing how unforeseen events or deliberate actions can negatively affect one's progress.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "derail your plans" effectively conveys the disruption or prevention of intended actions. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, particularly news and general discussions. While mostly neutral in register, it might be less suitable for highly formal settings. Consider alternatives like "hamper your plans" or "thwart your plans" for nuanced meanings or increased formality. Overall, it's a common and understandable expression for describing setbacks or alterations to one's objectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hamper your plans

Changes the verb to "hamper", suggesting a restriction or impediment rather than a complete stop.

thwart your plans

Uses "thwart", indicating a successful prevention of the plans from happening.

disrupt your plans

Employs "disrupt", suggesting a disturbance or interruption of the plans, without necessarily stopping them completely.

jeopardize your plans

Replaces the verb with "jeopardize", implying that the plans are put at risk.

scupper your plans

Utilizes "scupper", which means to deliberately cause something to fail.

set back your plans

Uses "set back", suggesting a delay or temporary impediment to the plans.

interfere with your plans

Employs "interfere with", indicating an unwanted involvement that affects the plans.

wreck your plans

Changes to "wreck", suggesting that the plans are severely damaged or ruined.

sabotage your plans

Uses "sabotage", implying a deliberate action to undermine or ruin the plans.

put a stop to your plans

Employs "put a stop to", indicating that plans are completely halted.

FAQs

What does it mean to "derail your plans"?

To "derail your plans" means that something has happened that prevents you from achieving what you intended or causes your plans to go off track.

What can I say instead of "derail your plans"?

You can use alternatives like "hamper your plans", "thwart your plans", or "disrupt your plans" depending on the context.

How can unexpected events "derail your plans"?

Unexpected events can "derail your plans" by introducing unforeseen obstacles, delays, or complications that make it difficult or impossible to continue following your original course of action.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "derail your plans"?

It's suitable to use "derail your plans" in situations where you want to express how an event or situation has negatively impacted or altered someone's intentions, be it in personal, professional, or broader contexts.