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# the good lord willing

phrase (idiom, a clause added to a sentence: «the good Lord willing», also «God willing», «Lord willing»)

«the good lord willing» 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. (old-fashioned) if God allows it; if nothing goes wrong.
2. (humorous) hopefully, if all goes well.

### In the lessons

Said after a plan to show hope and humility: the speaker knows that things might not go as planned. Old-fashioned and homely, heard among religious or older people in rural US, UK, Ireland and Australia; often in «the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise» (a joking country saying).

### Examples

- We'll be at your wedding, the good Lord willing.
- (grandpa) The good Lord willing, I'll see ninety.
- The harvest will be in by Friday, the good Lord willing.
- (joke, US) I'll be there, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.
- (letter) We hope to visit in the spring, the good Lord willing.
- (chat) exams done next week, good lord willing
- (story) "Good Lord willing, we'll reach the river by night," said the guide.

### Note

Trap: it does not mean God is being asked to do something — it only means «if all goes well». It sounds old or religious; in a school essay say «hopefully» or «if all goes to plan». Usually with commas round it.