Definition of "pan out" []

• To separate and recover (valuable minerals) by swirling dirt or crushed rock in a pan of water, in the manner of a traditional prospector seeking gold. (verb)
• To succeed; to proceed according to plan; to result or end up. (verb)

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• "Preston had always respected Zac Robillard when the two of them had been under Annabelle’s heels at WorldTech, but at the same time he’d been infinitely jealous of the ease with which ideas came to Robillard — and not basic ideas, not foundations, no little bits and pieces of something that might pan out into something bigger, no: When Zac Robillard got an idea, it sprung into being full-blown and flawless."