3. Pans Out
If something pans out, the end result is a success. However, it is most commonly used in the negative sense to describe a plan or idea that failed.
- I really liked that job candidate, but the background check didn't pan out.
- We had a great idea for a new app, but the funding never panned out.
- Let’s see how this new marketing strategy pans out over the next few months.
The phrase pan out comes from the Gold Rush in the 1800s. Miners would put river dirt in a metal pan and wash it with water. If they found gold at the bottom, the work "panned out." If there was only dirt, it "didn't pan out." Today, we use it to talk about whether a plan or an idea is successful.
Bonus: Turn Out (Verb) vs. Turnout (Noun)
(in reference to "a crowd")
1. Turn out (Two Words) = The Action (phrasal verb)
Definition: the act of people arriving at an event or participating in an activity.
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"We hope thousands of people turn out for the rally tomorrow."
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"If the weather is bad, fewer voters will turn out to vote."
2. Turnout (One Word) = The Result (noun)
Definition: the number of people who attend an event; similar to crowd;
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"There was a large turnout for the rally."
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"The voter turnout was the highest in ten years."
Tip: If you can put an adjective like large, small, or poor in front of it, (or connect the adj. with a form of "be") use the one-word noun: turnout. For example:
- It was a record-breaking turnout
- The turnout was small.