drop the plan

USAGE SUMMARY

"drop the plan" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to give up or abandon a particular plan or course of action. Example: "I'm sorry, but I have to drop the plan to travel next week. I have too much work to do at the office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Because of a lack of funds, the school had to drop the plan.

The New York Times

But she had to drop the plan after she visited the parliamentary library.

The New York Times

But when presented with that demand, the sponsors decided to drop the plan.

The New York Times

The Board of Estimate (a city body controlling land use decisions) was prevailed upon to drop the plan.

The Guardian

The death of Cameron's son Ivan forced them to drop the plan since it "eliminated these vulnerabilities".

The Guardian

A change.org petition asking the Lions to drop the plan quickly attracted more than 1,000 supporters.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But one of the owners, Jerome J. LaLonde, said the island's serenity persuaded them to drop the plans.

The New York Times

Upon realizing that he had more than an hour's worth of fresh thoughts, he decided to simply drop the planned ones.

The New Yorker

Since the plans are new, there is no data available on how many customers drop the plans once they see the added charges.

The New York Times

The European Commission has called on SNP ministers to drop the plans, saying they could discriminate against alcohol imports.

BBC

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the association, which represents 2,000 heads of charities, called on the government to drop the plans.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about changes in strategic direction, use "drop the plan" to clearly communicate that a previously considered course of action is no longer being pursued. This emphasizes a conscious decision to abandon the original approach.

Common error

Avoid using "drop the plan" when you simply want to suggest minor adjustments or revisions to a strategy. This phrase implies a complete abandonment, not a refinement, and can misrepresent the extent of the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop the plan" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of ceasing to pursue a specific course of action. Ludwig AI affirms its correct grammatical structure and common use. Examples show it used to express a decision to abandon a previously considered strategy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drop the plan" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that signifies abandoning a previously considered course of action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is typically used in neutral contexts, such as news reporting and business communication. Usage of "drop the plan" to clearly communicate a change of strategy; be careful not to use it when only minor adjustments are being made. Related phrases include "abandon the strategy" and "scrap the proposal", which offer similar but nuanced meanings. The frequency of its occurrence and the diversity of reputable sources using the expression reinforces its legitimacy in standard English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abandon the strategy

Focuses on giving up a detailed method to achieve a goal.

scrap the proposal

Implies rejection of a formal suggestion or idea.

reconsider the decision

Highlights a return to thinking about a choice made earlier.

shelve the project

Suggests putting something aside temporarily, without completely cancelling it.

rescind the agreement

Means formally taking back or cancelling a pact or understanding.

withdraw the scheme

Indicates removing a structured system or arrangement.

call off the undertaking

Signals that an activity which was planned has been cancelled.

reverse the policy

Emphasizes a complete change in a set of rules or guidelines.

nullify the arrangement

To make an understanding void or without legal effect.

renege on the commitment

Focuses on failing to follow through on a declared intention.

FAQs

How can I use "drop the plan" in a sentence?

You can use "drop the plan" to indicate that a previously considered idea or course of action has been abandoned. For example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to drop the plan for expansion this year."

What can I say instead of "drop the plan"?

You can use alternatives like "abandon the strategy", "scrap the proposal", or "reconsider the decision" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "dropped the plan" instead of "drop the plan"?

Yes, "dropped the plan" is correct. "Drop the plan" is often used when discussing a future action, whereas "dropped the plan" indicates that the action of abandoning the plan has already occurred.

What's the difference between "drop the plan" and "shelve the project"?

"Drop the plan" typically implies a complete abandonment of an idea. "Shelve the project" suggests putting something aside temporarily, without a definite decision to cancel it altogether.