scheme
part of speech
noun (a scheme, schemes); verb (scheme, schemes, schemed, scheming)
meaning for a pupil
1) (UK, Australia, NZ) An official plan or system for doing something: a recycling scheme, a reading scheme at school. tree →
2) A clever, often secret or dishonest plan: a scheme to steal the jewels. tree →
3) (verb) To make secret plans, often to trick people. tree →
4) A «colour scheme» is a set of colours chosen to go together. tree →
5) (Scotland) A housing estate. tree →
sense in the lessons
In UK and Australian school life: «the school reading scheme», «a savings scheme», «a cycle-to-school scheme». In US English «scheme» usually sounds sneaky. In stories villains scheme and plot; in safety lessons «a get-rich-quick scheme» or online scheme is a scam — be careful. Phrases: «a money-making scheme», «get-rich-quick scheme», «colour scheme», «in the grand scheme of things».
examples
- Our school has a new recycling scheme. tree →
- The villain had a scheme to steal the crown. tree →
- Beware of get-rich-quick schemes online. tree →
- The bedroom has a blue and white colour scheme. tree →
- The twins were scheming to stay up late. tree →
- In the savings scheme, you add £2 a week; how much after 10 weeks? tree →
- In the grand scheme of things, one bad mark doesn't matter. tree →
- During this time she studied magic in order to carry out her wicked scheme. tree →
note
Countable: schemes. Person: schemer; adjective: scheming (sly). Trap: in UK English «scheme» is often neutral (an official plan); in US English it often sounds dishonest. Pronounced «skeem».
In the corpora
- "Earmarks" means money set aside for a politician's pet local projects, favourite schemes in his own area (US).
- Some parents find it hard to accept help because of pride, but help schemes exist so children stay warm and fed.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «scheme» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.