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# fate had other plans

phrase (saying, a whole clause; also «fate had other ideas»; «life had other plans»)

«fate had other plans» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, light) something unexpected happened, so a plan did not work out; things went differently from what was hoped.
2. (in stories) destiny, as if it were a person, changed what would happen.

### In the lessons

A soft, story-like way to talk about failure, bad luck, an accident or a change of plans, avoiding blame. Everyday and storytelling register, all regions; common in sports news, social media and fairy tales.

### Examples

- We planned a picnic, but fate had other plans and it poured with rain.
- She wanted to be a dancer, but fate had other plans after her injury.
- United looked set to win, but fate had other plans in the last minute.
- The hero meant to stay home, but fate had other plans.
- I was going to revise all weekend, but fate had other plans (my cousin brought a new game).
- They were going to marry in the spring, but fate had other plans.
- Fate had other plans for the little ship when the storm came.
- "Fate had other plans" is a nice way of saying it went wrong.

### Note

Trap: fate is not a real person who plans; it is a figure of speech. Sometimes it hides that a person made a mistake. Plain meaning: «it did not work out». Can sound funny for small things like a burnt cake.