many a slip between the cup and the lip 

Generally refers to a situation where things did not happen at the last minute the way they were expected to due to unforseen reasons

I was to get a raise this year, but it didnt happen due to the merger.
Well my friend, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip!

many a slip between the cup and the lip by Vishal Dhaliwal September 22, 2006