This short episode follows two modern meanings of “pan.” A plan or event can pan out successfully—or fail to do so—and a critic can pan a film, book, or performance. The guide focuses on those current uses rather than repeating the episode’s historical account of gold mining.

Cultural note: When someone says a plan did not pan out, they are describing its result, not necessarily blaming a person. “Pan” meaning “criticize” is mostly associated with reviews; for everyday feedback, “criticize” or “review negatively” is clearer.

Keep exploringThe same small word can describe whether a plan succeeded and what a reviewer thought of a movie.

Phrase guide · 2 expressions

Explore the expressions

Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.

Plans and results

Talk about whether an effort produced the hoped-for result.

pan out

Meaning

Develop or end in a particular way, especially successfully.

Tone & use

Neutral and common in conversation. The context can make it clear whether the outcome was good or bad; it does not say who is responsible.

Example

“We tested the new class schedule for a month to see whether it would pan out for both teachers and learners.”

NeutralNeutral / idiomatic

Reviews and criticism

Recognize a compact verb used for negative reviews.

pan a film / book / performance

Meaning

Give a work a strongly negative review.

Tone & use

Mostly used when discussing critics or reviews. It does not mean to offer any criticism at all; “pan” suggests a negative overall assessment.

Example

“Several reviewers panned the sequel, although some viewers enjoyed its lighter tone.”

NegativeNeutral / media

Knowledge check

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Choose the expression that best fits each situation.

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When Plans Pan Out—and When Critics Pan Them