abandon a plan

Meaning

This expression means to stop doing or planning something before it is completed, often because of difficulties or a change of mind. It is a formal collocation frequently used in business, news, and serious discussions. It suggests a decisive and permanent stop to a planned action.

Examples

• Due to the sudden storm, we had to abandon our plan to hike up the mountain.

  Due to the sudden storm, we had to abandon our plan to hike up the mountain.

• The company decided to abandon the plan to expand into the European market.

  The company decided to abandon the plan to expand into the European market.

• It is disappointing to abandon a plan after putting so much effort into it.

  It is disappointing to abandon a plan after putting so much effort into it.

• When the budget was cut, they had no choice but to abandon their plans.

  When the budget was cut, they had no choice but to abandon their plans.

• We should not abandon the plan just because we encountered a minor obstacle.

  We should not abandon the plan just because we encountered a minor obstacle.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They decided to drop out the plan because of high costs.

  ✓ They decided to abandon the plan because of high costs.

  'Drop out' is used for leaving school or a competition. For formal plans, use 'abandon' or simply 'drop' (without 'out').

• ✗ We must give up the plan immediately.

  ✓ We must abandon the plan immediately.

  While 'give up' is grammatically correct and common, it is informal. In formal writing or professional contexts, 'abandon a plan' is much more appropriate.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Because of the lack of funding, they had to ___ to build a new park.

  💡 Formally stop or give up a planned project.

  Show answer

  abandon a plan

• It is often wiser to ___ than to waste resources on a failing project.

  💡 Formally decide not to proceed with a planned action.

  Show answer

  abandon a plan