My friend says this meaning has a word. Someone i know (w/ an extensive vocabulary) says it sounds like engineering jargon; i agree so here i am after much looking elsewhere.

So, here it is... if i can explain it:

Say you're contemplating a problem, trying to figure out a solution or a process to solve the problem. You think of a certain aspect of it or problem that could occur, and you design something to compensate for this forseen issue. You go through with your design (the process to solve the problem), accounting for this problem but it fails anyway.

Now is there some word or phrase for this situation?

Sorry if it sounds confusing; the best i could do.

Does anyone know a resource to find the word for a meaning?

I've got your word:

Life

Greetings:

Here is an online reverse word lookup. You can try your own definition keyword input and see which resulting word best fits your need.

http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml

I typed in "plan ahead fail anyway" and one of the suggested results was "working girl" - probably not the word you had in mind. However, "miscarriage" just might be it.

I must say that Alec's word might just be the most apt!



- Kirt Blattenberger

This is the definition of "Murphy's Law". If something can go wrong, it will.