game plan

American  

noun

1. a carefully thought-out strategy or course of action, as in politics, business, or one's personal affairs.

2. Sports. the overall strategy of a team for winning a specific game.

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game plan British  

noun

1. a strategy

2. a plan of campaign, esp in politics

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Etymology

Origin of game plan

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Instead of listing three defensive keys before the game, coaches whittled the game plan to one focus: multiple efforts.

From Los Angeles Times

"What is the game plan? Surely the Americans didn't go into this with no game plan."

From BBC

On Tuesday night, the head of the US military's Central Command, Adm Brad Cooper, said the US-Israeli campaign was "ahead of our game plan".

From BBC

Kershaw won’t duck the assignment if gets it, but he considers it so unlikely he is happy to share his game plan publicly.

From Los Angeles Times

“They should also have a game plan for what they would do if the relationship were to end,” Nix adds.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blueprint
• scenario
• scheme
• strategy