A "cunning plan" refers to a clever or sneaky strategy or idea to achieve a desired outcome. It suggests using intelligence and trickery to solve a problem or gain an advantage. Full definition
It will be interesting to see what cunning plan is employed by our coaching team to counter these threats. (westhamway.net)
The Baldrickesque cunning plan will see arch-Brexiters Liam Fox and Michael Gove team up with Europhile David Lidington to examine the customs partnership, while the pro-EU Greg Clark and Karen Bradley will join Leave big beast David Davis to look at the maximum facilitation option. (totalpolitics.com)
These battles of the books changed political outcomes — mostly because cunning plans backfired. (theguardian.com)