Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

best laid plans

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.41 in modern English

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Meaning

noun

Shortened form of “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”, translated from Scots “The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, / Gang aft agley,” from To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough by Robert Burns (text and reading of poem).

best laid plan (singular)

What does best laid plans mean?: A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the ability to fully or even partially execute them is uncertain.
Where does best laid plans come from?: Shortened form of “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”, translated from Scots “The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, / Gang aft agley,” from To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough by Robert Burns (text and reading of poem).

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