ill-laid

The public reasons are that he's screwed up Iraq and intimidates our soldiers 'leaders into following his ill-laid plans.

GO ARMY!!! 2006

An ill-laid floor would have set up a ruinous screeching as he moved, however carefully, across it.

Black Jack Max Brand 1918

The meal to which the minister conducted Mr. Fotheringay was certainly ill-laid and uninviting as refreshment for two industrious miracle-workers; but they were seated, and Mr. Maydig was descanting in sorrow rather than in anger upon his housekeeper's shortcomings, before it occurred to Mr. Fotheringay that an opportunity lay before him.

The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories 1906

The meal to which the minister conducted Mr. Fotheringay was certainly ill-laid and uninviting as refreshment for two industrious miracle-workers; but they were seated, and Mr. Maydig was descanting in sorrow rather than in anger upon his housekeeper's shortcomings, before it occurred to Mr. Fotheringay that an opportunity lay before him.

Tales of Space and Time 1906

The table was ill-laid, there were no flowers, an empty bottle of wine and several decanters remained where they had been set.

Jeanne of the Marshes 1906

The same atmosphere of mustiness permeated the premises; the ill-laid flags forming the floor of the stoep still with lifted edges lay in wait for unaccustomed feet.

Kafir Stories Seven Short Stories 1899

In buildings of every class, the walls are very thick and consist as a rule of a coarse, short-bedded, ill-laid rubble masonry, without thorough bonding and connected by mortar of slender cohesion.

A Study of Recent Earthquakes Charles Davison 1899

Back and forth, back and forth went the thin, ungainly shape, the ill-laid floor creaking as he moved, paused at last before the single dust-stained window, stood like a silhouette looking out over the desolate town.

Where the Trail Divides 1893

It straggles along a rough and ill-laid lane, under a little wold, once a sheep-walk, now long ploughed up.

Escape, and Other Essays Arthur Christopher Benson 1893

Finding themselves no better welcomed or amused than rude boys are wont to be by young men, they betook themselves to an upper room, the floor of which was formed by ill-laid, gaping planks, which were the ceiling of that below.

Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862