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Project status vocabularyidiom / prepositional phrase · /ɪn ðə ˈpaɪplaɪn/

in the pipeline

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In simple English

A feature or project is currently in development or planning stages and will be released or delivered soon.

Someone heard "in the pipeline" at work and wants to know if it means the work is started, planned, or almost done.

At a glanceCEFR B1–B2
Commonness
Versatility
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticNeutral
Region

Say it like this

✓We've got a few improvements in the pipeline for Q2.
✓That feature is in the pipeline—should be ready next sprint.
✓There's a lot in the pipeline right now, so we need to prioritize.
✓Don't worry, a fix is already in the pipeline.
✓We have several API updates in the pipeline.

Real examples

Standup

"The new dashboard is in the pipeline—I'm finishing the backend this week."

Slack message

"Hey team, just FYI: the dark mode feature is in the pipeline for next release."

GitHub PR

"This PR addresses the first part. More refactoring is in the pipeline."

Jira ticket

"Performance improvements are in the pipeline and will be prioritized after this sprint."

Retrospective

"We talked about better error handling—it's now in the pipeline for the next quarter."

Sprint planning

"We have three features in the pipeline. Let's decide which one to start first."

Pair programming

"I know this code is messy. A cleanup task is in the pipeline."

Don't say this

✕The feature is in pipeline.
✓The feature is in the pipeline.— Always use 'the' before pipeline. It's a fixed phrase.
✕We finished the work in the pipeline.
✓We finished the work that was in the pipeline.— 'In the pipeline' means something is not finished yet. Don't use it for completed work.
✕It's in the pipeline since two years.
✓It's been in the pipeline for two years.— Use 'for' with time periods, and use present perfect ('has been') for ongoing situations.

Other forms

prepositional phrase

in the pipeline

"Several bug fixes are in the pipeline."

noun (the pipeline)

pipeline

"Our pipeline is full of new features."

verb phrase

have in the pipeline

"We have a redesign in the pipeline."

Often used with

features in the pipelineMost common use—upcoming product features
have something in the pipelineStandard way to announce planned work
already in the pipelineReassures someone that work has started
several things in the pipelineIndicates multiple upcoming items
coming down the pipelineEmphasizes that something is approaching soon

Similar words

in progressMore specific—work is actively happening right now
in the worksVery similar meaning, slightly more casual
coming soonFocuses on the result, less on the process
on the roadmapMore formal, often used for longer-term planning
plannedMore general—may not mean work has started

Opposites

on holdshelvedcancellednot plannedcompleted

More words

roadmapbacklogin progressupcomingsprintreleasemilestoneETA

Questions

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