game plan

Meaning

A 'game plan' is a strategy or clear plan worked out beforehand to achieve success. Originally used in sports like football or basketball, it is now widely used in gaming, movies, and everyday life to describe any structured approach to winning or completing a goal.

Examples

• Before we join the match, let's talk about our game plan for this round.

  Before we join the match, let's talk about our game plan for this round.

• The coach's game plan worked perfectly, and they won the championship.

  The coach's game plan worked perfectly, and they won the championship.

• I don't have a solid game plan for finishing this video game by the weekend.

  I don't have a solid game plan for finishing this video game by the weekend.

• If our initial game plan fails, we need a backup strategy ready to go.

  If our initial game plan fails, we need a backup strategy ready to go.

• Her game plan for the tournament was to play defensively and wait for her opponent to make a mistake.

  Her game plan for the tournament was to play defensively and wait for her opponent to make a mistake.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need a game play to win this match.

  ✓ We need a game plan to win this match.

  Learners often confuse 'plan' with 'play' because they associate the word 'game' with playing. 'Game plan' is the correct set phrase.

• ✗ Let's make a game plan strategy.

  ✓ Let's make a game plan.

  A 'game plan' is already a strategy, so adding the word 'strategy' right after it is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The esports team spent hours discussing their ___ before the grand finals.

  💡 A strategy worked out beforehand to achieve success.

  Show answer

  game plan

• Without a clear ___, we are just wandering around this open-world game.

  💡 A structured approach to completing a goal.

  Show answer

  game plan