This morning I spoke to a friend who told me he’d met a new girlfriend online. I’m assuming he meant their initial rendezvous took place on a dating website, not that he’d to untie her from a train track like a silent movie hero…… Perhaps, I should be a bit more inquisitive.
According to my buddy, apparently this new amour makes him go weak at the knees. He’s lucky the only thing that makes me go weak at the knees is the fact I’ve got weak knees.
During our conversation, upon learning my friend’s schedule for the remainder of today, I used the expression “That sounds like a plan.”. Despite not clarifying this specifically in oration, my retort real meaning was (of course) “That sounds like a good plan .”
Utilising this short statement, though, a catalyst to me wondering if I’d any real requirement to utilise cliche or state the bleeding obvious at my buddy. After all, as it was a planned event, by definition this individuals scheduled itinerary with his new beau was clearly a plan…… They certainly won’t have required my input to advise them as much – Which he was polite enough not to raise.
Even if they’d arranged something less esprit-filled for today, such as embarking on an Experience Day sitting in a pit of king cobras, uttering “That sounds like a plan.” to that bulletin would’ve been equally unnecessary……. Although, clearly, the context of those words in the latter example would’ve been significantly different from whatever they’d actually planned.
With these notions in mind, prior to lunchtime, I spent time mulling over whether yours truly should be more specific in future when evaluating the substance of peoples plans.
For instance, instead of the lazier catch-all “That sounds like a plan.”, should I prefix the word ‘plan’ with ‘good’ to give a more accurate indication of my thoughts on an upcoming brio filled event…… Or, if they were (indeed) planning to sun bathe in a snake pit, prefix ‘plan’ with the adjective ‘f***ing dangerous’.
Upon reading this pedantry, you’ll probably gather I’d a bit of spare time on my hands this morning. GJ Strachan wandering down this neurological path consequential of not having any scheduled plans of his own, either good or bad…… Although, one could probably argue writing this prose is/was a plan.
Venturing down pedantry avenue further, in truth, writing this didn’t sound like a plan – As it’s contents weren’t communicated verbally, it couldn’t possibly be a sound. …….. Instead “That was a well thought out plan, Gary” plays out as a more accurate observation with regard my scheduled penmanship……. Well, that’s if deciding to write this turns out to be a well thought out notion which receives favourable reviews from my readership.
That being said, is my nattering over the correct formatting of the statement “That sounds like a plan.” just me overthinking things? …….. A question which, on reflection, I can only respond to as “Guilty as charged!”
In conclusion, and after much thought on the matter, I’ve decided not to adapt my use of the expression “That sounds like a plan.”
After all, I’ve concluded, there’s no requirement for a qualifying adjective prior to the word plan. When used, the adage is without fail utilised in a positive manner. The formulator of this schedule always being fed back reverentially – Consequently, there’s not a requirement for assuaging…….. Stop overthinking stuff, Gary!
Right, I’m off for a lie down!
