To Pan Out

To Pan Out

Welcome to English in a Minute!

A pan is a metal container used for cooking or baking.

Are Anna and Jonathan talking about cooking?

Let’s listen.

Did you ever hear back about that movie role you tried out for?

Yeah, it didn’t pan out.

They wanted someone who could sound more presdential.

How could it not pan out?

You are the most presidential person I know.

Thank you. Thank you.

See? My presidential voice is good!

To “pan out” means to have a successful result.

It comes from a way to search for gold.

Gold miners would take a handful of sand and mix it with water in a pan.

Sometimes, their efforts “panned out,” meaning they found gold.

And that’s English in a Minute.