mice

the best-laid plans of mice and men

Said when something ends poorly or differently than expected, despite preparations for success. It is an abbreviated version of the full proverb "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray." I always thought our marriage was stable and that we'd be together forever. I guess it's true what they say, though, the best-laid plans of mice and men and all that. A: "I've been working on this project for six months, and now, right before it's due, they tell me they want something completely different." B: "That's rough. The best-laid plans of mice and men, I suppose."See also: and, men, mice, of, plan

the best-laid schemes of mice and men

Said when something ends poorly or differently than expected, despite preparations for success. It is an abbreviated version of the line, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley" (go astray), from Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse," which itself is a play on the proverb "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray." I always thought our marriage was stable and that we'd be together forever. I guess it's true what they say, though, the best-laid schemes of mice and men and all that. A: "I've been working on this project for six months, and now, right before it's due, they tell me they want something completely different." B: "That's rough. The best-laid schemes of mice and men, I suppose."See also: and, men, mice, of, scheme

dust mouse

A small accumulation of dust and lint, as found behind or under furniture. Also called a "dust bunny" or "dust ball." I was appalled by the amount of dust mice that were behind the sofa when we moved it from the corner of the room.See also: dust, mouse

be as poor as church mice

To have little or no money. Now that we're paying a mortgage, we're as poor as church mice.See also: church, mice, poor

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

Said when something ends poorly or differently than expected, despite preparations for success. The phrase is likely an adaptation of a line from 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns. I always thought our business would last forever. I guess it's true what they say, though, the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray. A: "I've been working on this project for six months, and now, right before it's due, they tell me they want something completely different." B: "That's rough. The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray, I suppose."See also: and, astray, go, men, mice, of, oft, plan

a cat in gloves catches no mice

One might have to incorporate blunt or aggressive action in order to obtain results that cannot be achieved with passivity or restraint. I think you'll get that promotion if you pursue it more assertively. A cat in gloves catches no mice, after all.See also: cat, catch, glove, mice, no

when the cat's away, the mice will play

When someone in authority is not present, those subordinate to that authority do whatever they want. A: "If I leave my classroom for even a moment, I come back to find the place in chaos." B: "When the cat's away, the mice will play."See also: mice, play, will

(as) poor as a church mouse

Very poor; having little or no money. My father was as poor as a church mouse growing up, so his sole focus was to give his kids every opportunity in life that he missed out on. We've become poor as church mice ever since the bank raised the interest rates on our mortgage.See also: church, mouse, poor

(as) quiet as a mouse

Silent, meek, and gentle. I just can't believe that Kate actually yelled at Mike—she's usually as quiet as a mouse! We remained as quiet as mice to avoid being detected by the guards.See also: mouse, quiet

keep no more cats than can catch mice

Be minimalistic. I don't know why he has four cars. Personally, I always try to keep no more cats than can catch mice.See also: can, cat, catch, keep, mice, more, no

bald-headed mouse

vulgar slang A penis. Hey, I don't want to see your bald-headed mouse—pull up your pants!See also: mouse

one-eyed trouser mouse

vulgar slang A penis. They said there's a guy going around flashing his one-eyed trouser mouse to people in Central Park.See also: mouse, trouser

one-eyed pants mouse

vulgar slang A penis. They said there's a guy going around flashing his one-eyed pants mouse to people in Central Park.See also: mouse, pant

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, astray, go, men, mice, of, oft, plan

cat in gloves catches no mice

Prov. Sometimes you cannot get what you want by being careful and polite. Jill: I've hinted to Mary several times that I need her to pay me the money she owes, but she just ignores me. Jane: A cat in gloves catches no mice, Jill. Tell her bluntly that you need the money.See also: cat, catch, glove, mice, no

*poor as a church mouse

and *poor as church micevery poor. (*Also: as ~.) My aunt is as poor as a church mouse. The Browns are poor as church mice.See also: church, mouse, poor

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Prov. When no one in authority is present, the subordinates can do as they please. When the teacher left for a few minutes, the children nearly wrecked the classroom. When the cat's away, the mice will play. Jill: You shouldn't be reading a novel at your desk. Jane: But the boss isn't here. And when the cat's away, the mice will play.See also: mice, play, will

when the cat's away, the mice will play

Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules. For example, As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over-when the cat's away, you know . This expression has been a proverb since about 1600 and is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example. See also: mice, play, will

poor as a church mouse

OLD-FASHIONEDIf someone is as poor as a church mouse, they have very little money. I was as poor as a church mouse, but I bought that wreck of a car. I suspect we'll continue to be poor as church mice. Note: Mice living in a church are unlikely to find much to eat as there is no kitchen or food cupboard. See also: church, mouse, poor

when the cat's away, the mice will play

people will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do as they like. proverbSee also: mice, play, will

poor as a church mouse (or as church mice)

extremely poor. Church mice may be considered to be particularly poor or deprived in that they do not have the opportunity to find pickings from a kitchen or larder.See also: church, mouse, poor

when the cat’s aˈway the mice will ˈplay

(saying) people enjoy themselves more and behave with greater freedom when the person in charge of them is not thereSee also: away, mice, play, will

(as) poor as a church ˈmouse

very poor: She was as poor as a church mouse, living on a tiny pension. OPPOSITE: (as) rich as CroesusSee also: church, mouse, poor

bald-headed mouse

verbSee bald-headed hermitSee also: mouse

one-eyed pants mouse

verbSee bald-headed hermitSee also: mouse, pant

when the cat's away (the mice will play)

When the authorities are absent, people will break rules and do as they please. This proverb, which exists in numerous languages, appeared in several different forms in English in the seventeenth century. Thomas Heywood used it in A Woman Kill’d with Kindness (1607): “There’s an old proverb—when the cat’s away, the mouse may play.” Today it is often shortened.See also: away, mice, will

keep no more cats than can catch mice

Use the bare minimum. A old expression that cautioned against maintaining any more people or things than can accomplish a purpose. asSee also: can, cat, catch, keep, mice, more, no

MICE

Acronym	Definition
MICE➣Multi International Communication Experiences
MICE➣Multimedia Integrated Conferencing for European Researchers
MICE➣Modular Integrated Communications Environment
MICE➣Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Exhibition (business slogan)
MICE➣Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment
MICE➣Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events
MICE➣Meetings and Incentives Exhibition (trade show)
MICE➣Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions
MICE➣Mesoscopic Integrated Conformal Electronics
MICE➣Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers
MICE➣Mechanical, Ingress, Climatic/Chemical and Electromagnetic (computer network engineering)
MICE➣Mitsubishi Internal Combustion Engine (Japan)
MICE➣Metafile Image Code Execution
MICE➣Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (UK)
MICE➣Manipal Institute of Computer Education (India)
MICE➣Money, Ideology, Compromise, Ego (reasons people become spies)
MICE➣Milieu, Idea, Character, Event (fiction writing)
MICE➣Management Information Capability for Enforcement
MICE➣Multivariate Imputation of Chained Equations
MICE➣Money, Ideology, Coercion & Ego (reasons people become spies)
MICE➣Man's Impact on Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems
MICE➣Multisensory Intervention Through Consultation and Education
MICE➣Missile Intercept Computer Evaluation (Model)
MICE➣Member, Institute of Civil Engineering

mice

mice

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mouse

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mice

the best-laid plans of mice and men

the best-laid schemes of mice and men

dust mouse

be as poor as church mice

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

a cat in gloves catches no mice

when the cat's away, the mice will play

(as) poor as a church mouse

(as) quiet as a mouse

keep no more cats than can catch mice

bald-headed mouse

one-eyed trouser mouse

one-eyed pants mouse

best-laid plans of mice and men oft(en) go astray,

cat in gloves catches no mice

*poor as a church mouse

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

when the cat's away, the mice will play

poor as a church mouse

when the cat's away, the mice will play

poor as a church mouse (or as church mice)

when the cat’s aˈway the mice will ˈplay

(as) poor as a church ˈmouse

bald-headed mouse

one-eyed pants mouse

when the cat's away (the mice will play)

keep no more cats than can catch mice

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mice

Patient discussion about mice

MICE