astray Idiom, Proverb

the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray

plans are not guaranteed, plans sometimes do not work out "If this boat sinks, we'll say, ""The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray."""

lead astray

guide into a wrong way；tempt sb．to do sth．wrong 领错路；引入歧途
My trained dog has never led the sheep astray．我那条训练过的狗从未把羊领错路。
The boy was led astray by evil companions．这男孩被坏朋友带上了斜路。
The unthinking public are easily led astray by the false picture of reality given in television shows．不加思考的公众很容易被电视对现实所描绘出的假象引入歧途。

go astray

Idiom(s): go astray

Theme: DEPART

to leave the proper path (literally or figuratively).
• Stay right on the road. Don't go astray and get lost.
• Follow the rules I've given you and don't go astray. That'll keep you out of trouble.

go astray|astray|go

v. phr. To become lost. The letter has obviously gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago.

astray

astray
see best-laid plans go astray, the; go astray.

best-laid plans go astray, the

best-laid plans go astray, the
Also, the best-laid schemes go astray. Even very careful designs or projects do not always succeed. For example, Mary spent all afternoon preparing this elaborate dish but forgot the most important ingredient—oh well, the best-laid plans go astray. This particular turn of phrase comes from Robert Burns's poem “To a Mouse” (1786): “The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley [go often astray].” It is so well known that it is often abbreviated to the best-laid plans.