Meaning trap
come off
succeed
To happen as planned or to be successful.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To happen as planned or to be successful.
Another meaning of 'come off' is 'become detached'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The event came off better than anyone expected.
I was nervous about organizing the school festival, but in the end, everything came off perfectly and everyone enjoyed it.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The surprise party came off good.
Say: The surprise party came off well.
Use the adverb 'well' with 'come off', not 'good'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
For a scheme working out as intended, natives say it 'comes off'; 'will be successful' is flatter and more formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
come off + manner
- well
- as planned
- brilliantly
- perfectly
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- come off (become detached) — Another meaning of 'come off' is 'become detached'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.