planning
Idioms (27)
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on the back burner
CEFR B2given low priority and left for later
Informal -
in the pipeline
CEFR B2being planned or developed and expected to happen soon
Neutral -
set something in stone
CEFR B2to make something fixed and impossible to change
Neutral -
set the scene
CEFR B2to describe the background so that something can be understood, or to create the conditions for it
Neutral -
get someone on board
CEFR B2to persuade someone to join or support a plan or project
Informal -
throw somebody in at the deep end
CEFR B2to make someone start a difficult task with little preparation or help
Informal -
back to the drawing board
CEFR B2to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
Neutral -
easier said than done
CEFR B1Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.
Neutral -
play it by ear
CEFR B2To deal with a situation as it develops rather than following a fixed plan.
Informal -
cross that bridge when you come to it
CEFR B2To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.
Neutral -
boil the ocean
CEFR C1to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once
Neutral -
pipe dream
CEFR B2an unrealistic hope or plan that will almost certainly never happen
Informal -
iron out the kinks
CEFR B2to fix the last small problems in a plan, process, or product
Neutral -
moving target
CEFR B2a goal or requirement that keeps changing while you try to hit it
Neutral -
have several balls in the air
CEFR B2to be managing multiple projects or commitments at once
Informal -
cover all bases
CEFR B2to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed
Neutral -
bite off more than you can chew
CEFR B2to take on more work than you can handle
Informal -
get your ducks in a row
CEFR C1to organize things carefully before acting
Informal -
the devil is in the details
CEFR B2the hidden difficulties of a plan are in its small details
Neutral -
put the cart before the horse
CEFR B2to do things in the wrong order
Neutral -
back to square one
CEFR B2to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
Neutral -
mission creep
CEFR C1the gradual expansion of a project's goals beyond its original scope
Neutral -
get the show on the road
CEFR B2to begin a project or activity that has been delayed
Informal -
for the time being
CEFR B1temporarily, until circumstances change
Neutral -
with a view to
CEFR B2with the intention of achieving a particular result
Formal -
take stock
CEFR B2to pause and carefully assess a situation before deciding what to do next
Neutral -
buy time
CEFR B2to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide
Neutral