astray

best-laid plans of mice and men oft(en) go astray, and best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley.

Prov. Things often go wrong even though you have carefully planned what you are going to do. (The gang aft a-gley version is Scots dialect, and comes from Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse.") Jill: I reserved a hotel room for us three weeks ago, but now the clerk says he has no record of our reservation. So much for our fun weekend in the city. Jane: Well, these things happen. The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray. I had all the arrangements made for my party, and then the guest of honor got sick and I had to call the whole thing off. The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley. If a little rain can ruin the best-laid plans of mice and men, think what an earthquake might do!

See also: and, men, mice, plan

go astray 

1. Lit. to wander off the road or path. Stick to the path and try not to go astray. I couldn't see the trail and I almost went astray.

2. Fig. [for something] to get lost or misplaced. My glasses have gone astray again. Mary's book went astray or maybe it was stolen.

3. Fig. to turn bad or wander from the way of goodness; to make an error. I'm afraid your son has gone astray and gotten into a bit of trouble. Iwent astray with the computer program at this point.

lead someone astray

to direct or guide someone in the wrong direction. I am afraid that this young man has been leading you astray. I think you had better stop seeing him. No one can lead me astray. I know what I am doing.

See also: lead

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lead somebody astray 

1. to influence someone so that they do bad things Parents always worry about their children being led astray by unsuitable friends.

2. to cause someone to make a mistake The police were led astray by false information from one of the witnesses.

See also: lead

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go astray

1. to fail to arrive where it should I don't understand how my e-mail went astray.

2. to stop doing something in the way that you should Sometimes even the most well-thought-out plans go astray.

Related vocabulary: lead somebody astray

lead somebody astray

1. to influence someone in a negative way Parents always worry that certain friends will lead their children astray.

2. to cause someone to make a mistake The police were led astray by some false information.

Related vocabulary: go astray

See also: lead