Scheme
/skiːm/
Definitions
2 meaningsA systematic plan or arrangement, often with a devious intent.
/skiːm/
A plan or program of action, especially a secret or underhand one.
The con artist had a complicated scheme to defraud investors.
💡 Simply: A scheme is like a secret plan to do something, sometimes not in a good way. Imagine you and your friend have a scheme to get extra cookies from the kitchen when your parents aren't looking.
👶 For kids: A scheme is a secret plan.
More Examples
The government launched a new subsidy scheme to support farmers.
They uncovered a complex scheme involving bribery and corruption.
How It's Used
"The political scheme was designed to manipulate voter turnout."
"They devised a marketing scheme to attract new customers."
"A clever scheme to avoid paying taxes."
To devise a plan, often with a malicious intent or secret purpose.
/skiːm/
To form a plan; to make secret plans to do something wrong or illegal.
The rivals schemed against each other for years.
💡 Simply: To scheme is to secretly plan something, especially something tricky or not very nice. Like, two kids scheming to swap test papers.
👶 For kids: To scheme is to make a secret plan.
More Examples
They schemed to overthrow the current leader.
The employees schemed to steal from their boss.
How It's Used
"The group was scheming to rob the bank."
"He schemed to gain control of the company."
"They were scheming their revenge"
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
get the scheme of things
To understand how something works or is organized.
"It took me a while to get the scheme of things at my new job, but now I understand how everything operates."
part of the scheme
An essential element within a planned system
"His involvement was just part of the scheme."
From Greek skhēma, meaning 'form' or 'figure', via Latin. Initially referred to a diagram or plan, later evolving to include secret or devious plans.
Historically, the word 'scheme' was used in philosophy and art to denote forms and figures. Over time, it broadened to encompass plans and eventually, often, plans with negative connotations.
Memory tip
Think of a criminal mastermind plotting a grand scheme.