"Laid plans" refers to a carefully designed course of action that has been thought out in advance. However, sometimes these plans don't always go as planned. In situations where things go awry, it is useful to have synonyms available to describe the experience. Some alternatives to "laid plans" include "best-laid plans," "well-conceived ideas," "thought-out strategies," "premeditated agendas," and "meticulously prepared schemes." Whether you are facing a setback in your professional or personal life, using one of these synonyms can help you to communicate the idea that you had a well-thought-out plan that didn't quite work out.