went awry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "went awry" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation that has gone wrong or not as planned. Example: "The event was supposed to be a celebration, but everything went awry when the caterer canceled last minute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Everything imaginable went awry.

The New York Times - Sports

"But life went awry.

The New York Times

Then things went awry.

The New York Times

But the dynamics went awry.

The Economist

That plan quickly went awry.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet it still went awry.

The Economist

"Their strategy went awry".

The New York Times

Unfortunately, something went awry.

The New York Times

But something went awry.

The Guardian

"I just know something went awry".

The New York Times

Other Lindsay endeavors went awry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went awry" to describe situations where plans or processes deviate from their intended course, resulting in unexpected or negative outcomes. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "went awry" is generally acceptable, be mindful of extremely formal contexts where more precise or technical language might be preferred. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went awry" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating that a plan, event, or situation has deviated from its intended course. Ludwig AI examples showcase its versatile usage across varied scenarios where things didn't go as expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "went awry" is a commonly used phrase to describe situations that didn't go as planned. As the Ludwig AI demonstrates, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media. Alternatives like "went wrong" or "went amiss" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. While versatile, writers should remain mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the overall tone. Usage of the phrase is widespread, with a slightly neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went wrong

A more direct and common way of saying something didn't go as planned.

went amiss

Similar to "went awry" but slightly more formal and emphasizes a mistake or error.

failed

A simple and direct way to state that something did not succeed.

went sour

Suggests a situation deteriorated or turned unpleasant.

fell through

Implies a plan or arrangement did not materialize.

came to nothing

Indicates an effort or plan was unsuccessful and without result.

went off course

Suggests a deviation from the intended path or plan.

took a wrong turn

Implies a decision or event led to an undesirable outcome.

unraveled

Suggests a process or situation deteriorated and fell apart.

bombed

Informal way to say something failed spectacularly.

FAQs

How can I use "went awry" in a sentence?

You can use "went awry" to describe a plan, event, or situation that did not proceed as expected. For example, "The project plan "went awry" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's a simple alternative to "went awry"?

A simpler alternative to "went awry" is "went wrong". It conveys the same basic meaning but is less formal.

Is "go awry" the same as "went awry"?

"Go awry" is the infinitive form, while "went awry" is the past tense. Use "go awry" when discussing the potential for something to fail and "went awry" when discussing something that has already failed.

What's the difference between "went awry" and "went amiss"?

Both "went awry" and "went amiss" suggest something has gone wrong, but "went amiss" carries a slightly more formal tone, implying an error or mistake has occurred.