come off — succeed
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutraloccasional
To happen as planned or to be successful.
Say it like a native
Textbook I hope our plan will be successful.
Native I hope the plan comes off.
For a scheme working out as intended, natives say it 'comes off'; 'will be successful' is flatter and more formal.
Pattern: come off (well/badly/as planned)
In use
- The event came off better than anyone expected.work
- I was nervous about organizing the school festival, but in the end, everything came off perfectly and everyone enjoyed it.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The deal came off successfully in the end.
✓ The deal came off in the end.
'Come off' already means 'succeed', so adding 'successfully' is redundant.
Common collocations
come off + manner— well, as planned, brilliantly, perfectly
Don't confuse it
Not about physical separation; this sense is about results or outcomes.
Related
- come off (become detached) — Another meaning of 'come off' is 'become detached'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.