scheme

A plan for achieving something, sometimes secretly or dishonestly.

• The scheme will provide cheaper housing.
• They uncovered a scheme to steal money.
• Several training schemes are open to recent graduates.

How to use it: scheme to do something (Police uncovered a scheme to steal customer data.); scheme for doing something (The company announced a scheme for helping new employees.)

Similar words: plan, project, plot

Common phrases: training scheme, pension scheme, dishonest scheme

A drawing that shows how the parts of something are arranged or connected.

• The scheme shows the electrical connections.
• He drew a scheme of the water system.
• Compare the two schemes to see how the layouts differ.

How to use it: scheme of something (The engineer drew a scheme of the ventilation system.)

Similar words: diagram, plan, schematic

Common phrases: circuit scheme, structural scheme, scheme of something

To make secret or dishonest plans, especially to harm someone or gain an advantage.

• They schemed against their rivals.
• She was scheming to get her brother blamed.
• The officials had secretly schemed to remove the leader.

How to use it: scheme against someone (They were scheming against the king.); scheme to do something (He schemed to take control of the business.)

Similar words: plot, conspire

Common phrases: scheme against someone, scheme to win