the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry

Questions

What does the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry mean?

No matter how well a project is planned, accidents or misfortune can still occur.

Where does the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry come from?

From a Scots poem by Robert Burns, To a Mouse. In the original Scots, the lines are, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley”.

How to pronounce the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.