on track

/ɒn træk/

phrase★Intermediate

◆ What It Really Means

Making progress as planned or expected.

¶ Literal Meaning

Physically on a rail or path.

Literal Breakdown

onin contact with or supported by+tracka rail or path for vehicles

◇ Mental Image

A train or vehicle moving smoothly along its intended path.

◈ When to Use

A project manager reports to stakeholders that the project is on track for completion by the deadline.

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase originates from the literal sense of a train staying on its rails, metaphorically extended to progress in general.

informal

Making progress as planned or expected; proceeding according to schedule or goals.

The project is on track to finish by the deadline.

The team is on track to meet their quarterly targets.

💡

Often used in business, project management, and personal goal-setting contexts.

Collocations

on track forlikely to achieve or reach a specific goal or outcomeget back on trackto return to a state of progress or normalcy after a setback

off trackphrase

not progressing as planned

back on trackphrase

returning to a state of progress after a setback

Use 'on track' to describe progress toward a goal or schedule, often in professional settings.

While useful, avoid using 'on track' excessively in formal reports; vary your language.

Derived from the literal sense of a train or vehicle staying on its intended path, metaphorically extended to progress in general.

Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in business and project management.

in the state of

preposition

track

a path or course

noun

English Dictionary