plans fell through

USAGE SUMMARY

"plans fell through" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a plan that was not carried out or accomplished due to unforeseen circumstances. Example: We had been planning a vacation to Europe, but unfortunately our plans fell through when the pandemic shut down the airports.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ambitious expansion plans fell through.

The New York Times - Sports

But their financing plans fell through.

The New York Times

But at the last minute their plans fell through.

The New York Times

But after the court ruled…., those plans fell through.

The Washington Post

For whatever reasons, those plans fell through and the rot, quite literally, set in.

The Guardian - Opinion

"When the development plans fell through, it was a big disappointment for many of us".

The New York Times

When those plans fell through in 1983, he and Mr. Reed made the record themselves.

The New York Times - Arts

He asked Burns to get on board but the plans fell through last year.

The Guardian

Designed by John Madin, the proposals had it situated amid landscaped gardens but the plans fell through.

Independent

Then, when the development plans fell through, the heating was turned off and the building began to decay.

The New York Times

The countries considered co-hosting the 1988 Summer Olympics, but those plans fell through and North Korea boycotted the games.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plans fell through" when you want to concisely convey that a previously arranged course of action was not possible or did not happen. Be sure the context clearly indicates whose plans are being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "plans fell through" if the failure was due to a lack of planning or effort. This phrase typically implies that external circumstances or unexpected problems caused the plans to fail, not internal shortcomings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plans fell through" functions as a concise way to describe the failure or cancellation of pre-arranged activities or intentions. It serves to communicate that something that was intended to happen did not come to fruition. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plans fell through" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express that an intended course of action did not happen, often due to unforeseen circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation. While a neutral term, it leans towards a more informal register, suitable for everyday communication. Remember to use this phrase when referring to external causes of failure, not internal shortcomings, for the plans' disruption. Consider alternatives like "plans didn't materialize" or "plans were unsuccessful" for more formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plans didn't materialize

Emphasizes the lack of tangible outcome or realization of the plans.

plans were unsuccessful

Directly states the failure of the plans, focusing on the negative result.

plans were disrupted

Highlights an external interruption that prevented the plans from succeeding.

plans were abandoned

Indicates a deliberate decision to stop pursuing the plans.

plans came to nothing

Focuses on the lack of positive outcome or achievement.

plans didn't work out

A more casual way of saying the plans were not successful.

plans failed

Simple and direct way of conveying that the plans did not succeed.

plans were scuppered

Implies plans were deliberately ruined or prevented from succeeding.

plans were thwarted

Focuses on the obstruction or prevention of the plans' success.

plans dissolved

Suggests the plans gradually faded away or disintegrated.

FAQs

How can I use "plans fell through" in a sentence?

You can use "plans fell through" to indicate that a planned event or action did not happen. For instance, "We were going to travel to Italy, but our plans fell through because of the pandemic".

What's a more formal alternative to "plans fell through"?

More formal alternatives include "plans didn't materialize", "plans were unsuccessful", or "the arrangement was not feasible".

Is it correct to say "plan fell through" instead of "plans fell through"?

While grammatically, "plan fell through" is correct when referring to a single plan, "plans fell through" is more commonly used, even when referring to a single set of plans that encompass multiple elements.

What can I say instead of "plans fell through"?

You can use alternatives like "plans didn't materialize", "plans were unsuccessful", or "plans were disrupted" depending on the context.