Tell me about a celebration that completely didn't go to plan.

B Natural answer

One New Year’s Eve didn't go to plan because of a power cut. We were hosting dinner for family, and just before midnight the lights went out. I tried to keep things calm, but everyone was checking their phones and asking what was happening. The food was half-cooked, and the music stopped, so the house felt really strange. In the end, we lit some candles and counted down together in the dark. It wasn't fancy, and we missed the fireworks, but people actually enjoyed it. Looking back, it was awkward at first, then surprisingly warm and memorable.

Key phrases in this answer

• power cut — a sudden loss of electricity“A power cut stopped the music at the party.”
• keep things calm — stop people from getting upset or panicked“I tried to keep things calm when the lights went out.”
• counted down together — said the numbers together before an event starts“We counted down together and welcomed the new year.”
• go off the rails — become chaotic or stop working as planned“The birthday party went off the rails after the rain started.”
• at the last minute — just before something happens or is due“We changed the venue at the last minute.”
• everything started slipping — small problems began to get worse quickly“At the party, everything started slipping after the caterer was late.”