backup plan
Your second option
A backup plan is an alternative course of action prepared in case the primary plan fails.
The term implies prudent anticipation of obstacles: Always have a backup plan.
It appears across contexts from career decisions to military operations to weekend activities: If the restaurant is full, our backup plan is the place down the street.
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- safety netProtection against failure
- ace up sleeveSecret resource held back
- alternativeAnother available choice
escape route · insurance · reserve · failsafe · just in case · worst case scenario · exit strategy · cushion · parachute · hedge · safety valve · stopgap · pivot · workaround · lifeline · emergency · rainy day · spare
- alternate routesbypass, detour, alternate route, reroute, diversion
- Plan Adjustmentspivoting, recalibrating, reprioritizing, course correction, reassessing
- plansmasterplan, outline, blueprint, scheme, roadmap
- safety measureshandwashing, fire prevention, fire drills, escape route, home security
- safety netsrescue net, net, fall protection, backstop, failsafe
- scenariosbest-case, worst-case, hypothetical, what-if, best case
preparedness/contingency
backup planonly option
no safety net · flying blind · winging it · improvisation · unpreparedness
back, plan, backs, backed, backing, backups, upped, upping, plans