go smoothly

Meaning

This expression means to progress easily, without any problems, difficulties, or delays. It is commonly used to describe events, projects, meetings, or daily tasks that happen exactly as planned.

Examples

• We prepared everything in advance to make sure the event would go smoothly.

  We prepared everything in advance to make sure the event would go smoothly.

• The transition to the new software did not go smoothly at first.

  The transition to the new software did not go smoothly at first.

• I hope your job interview goes smoothly tomorrow.

  I hope your job interview goes smoothly tomorrow.

• Despite a few minor issues, the wedding went smoothly.

  Despite a few minor issues, the wedding went smoothly.

• If all goes smoothly, we should finish the project by Friday.

  If all goes smoothly, we should finish the project by Friday.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The meeting went smooth.

  ✓ The meeting went smoothly.

  'Go' is a verb, so we need the adverb 'smoothly' to describe how the action progressed, not the adjective 'smooth'.

• ✗ I hope the plan will go smoothly.

  ✓ I hope the plan goes smoothly.

  After the phrase 'I hope,' English speakers typically use the simple present tense ('goes') to refer to future events, rather than 'will go'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We did a rehearsal to ensure the presentation would ___.

  💡 Happen without any problems.

  Show answer

  go smoothly

• Did your flight ___ yesterday, or were there delays?

  💡 Progress without trouble.

  Show answer

  go smoothly