On track
“On track” is an expression you can use when you’re talking about progress toward a goal . If something is on track, it’s making the expected progress toward a goal. You’re on track for success; you are doing what you need to do to succeed .
There are a few variations with on track, which we’ll talk about. You can say, on the right track, on the wrong track, and back on track.
Progress toward a goal
Let’s start with the basic definition. Something is “on track” if it’s moving forward as planned . The expression implies that progress is happening at the right pace, and everything is going as expected .
For example, companies often set goals for the quarter. A quarter is three months of the year. So in month two, the company might analyze its progress and decide that everything is going well. If things continue the same way, they will achieve their sales targets . The quarter isn’t over yet! It’s too early to declare victory . But things are going well. You can say, “The company is on track to hit its sales targets.”
And it’s common to say, “on track to…” and then state the goal. Here’s another example. Imagine you have a weight-loss goal . You want to lose 10 pounds in six months: that’s achievable for many people. If you’ve been sticking to your workout routine or a new diet, if you’re seeing progress in that first month or two, you can say, “I’m on track to lose 10 pounds in six months.” Or, “I’m on track to meet my weight-loss goals.” By saying “on track,” you’re saying that you’re making the expected progress and, if things continue the way they’re going now, then you’ll meet your goals.
On the right track
But just taking action is sometimes not enough . You have to be doing the right things. And if you want to specify that you’re making good progress toward your goal, that you’re doing the correct things, you can use “on the right track.” It’s common to use this in school. Teachers tell students, “you’re on the right track” if the students are thinking about a problem in the right way .
Imagine a student working through a complicated math problem . There are multiple steps required —but the student has to decide what those steps are. So imagine the student has set up the problem correctly. She has done the first two steps correctly. She’s not quite at the solution yet, but she’s doing it the right way.
She looks up at the teacher. “How am I doing?” she asks. The teacher might say, “You’re on the right track.” That means, you’re not done yet. You haven’t gotten to the answer. But you also haven’t made any mistakes so far . So keep going; you’re on the right track.
So being “on the right track” is about more than just making progress—it’s about making progress in the correct way.
On the wrong track
So, if you can be on the right track, then guess what ? You can also be on the wrong track. This means that you’re doing stuff, there’s action, but you’re not doing the right things. And if you keep doing those wrong things, then you’re not going to meet your goal.
For example, in the workplace , a team might realize its strategy isn’t working . The team members might do work every day, they take action, but they’re not seeing the results they want . So someone might say, “I’m afraid we might be on the wrong track.” This doesn’t mean the team is lazy ; they’re working. But they’re not doing the right things. And if they don’t change, then they’re going to fail . They’re on the wrong track.
Back on track
It’s frustrating to be on the wrong track. But if that happens, don’t worry. You can always get back on track. “Get back on track” means to return to the correct path . When you get back on track, you realize that things are going badly, and you change your plan so that you are once again on the right track. You’re back on track.
If you slip up on your diet or fitness goals , if you’ve missed a few weeks at the gym, maybe overindulged a little at parties or family meals, maybe you just got sick for a few weeks, you can say, “I need to get back on track with my fitness goals.” That means, you need to return to the correct path, you need to start doing things right again. Get back on track.
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