the best-laid plans of mice and men
even careful planning can fail
In Spanish
el hombre propone y Dios dispone
Examples
- We rehearsed everything, but the best-laid plans of mice and men…
- Despite their careful preparations, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
- He worked for months on the project, but the best-laid plans of mice and men didn't guarantee success.
When it's used
This expression is used to convey that even the most careful plans can fail. It is a literary phrase from a Robert Burns poem and is used both in speech and writing, but with a more elevated or literary tone.
The common mistake
A common mistake is translating the Spanish 'el hombre propone y Dios dispone' directly into English, which results in a phrase that English speakers do not use. Another error is using it in casual, everyday situations where its poetic tone is out of place.