Ploy
noun
A plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's advantage.
His promise to lower taxes was just a ploy to win the election.
Often appears as...
- a clever ploy
- a political ploy
noun
An activity or pastime, primarily for amusement.
Singing songs around the campfire was just a ploy to keep the children entertained.
Often appears as...
- a simple ploy
- an innocent ploy
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's advantage.
His promise to lower taxes was just a ploy to win the election.
Often appears as...
- a clever ploy
- a political ploy
noun
An activity or pastime, primarily for amusement.
Singing songs around the campfire was just a ploy to keep the children entertained.
Often appears as...
- a simple ploy
- an innocent ploy
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Often Tactical
Used to describe a clever method to achieve something, especially in competition or debate.
The lawyer's sudden change of topic was a ploy to unsettle the witness.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Deceptive
May imply a degree of cunning or deceit, not always an honest move.
Her friendliness was just a ploy to discover my secrets.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Driven
Understand the scenario to interpret if 'ploy' signifies smart tactics or underhanded tricks.
His extravagant dinner invitation was a ploy for a business contract.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Tactical
Used to describe a clever method to achieve something, especially in competition or debate.
The lawyer's sudden change of topic was a ploy to unsettle the witness.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Deceptive
May imply a degree of cunning or deceit, not always an honest move.
Her friendliness was just a ploy to discover my secrets.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Driven
Understand the scenario to interpret if 'ploy' signifies smart tactics or underhanded tricks.
His extravagant dinner invitation was a ploy for a business contract.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Tactical
Used to describe a clever method to achieve something, especially in competition or debate.
The lawyer's sudden change of topic was a ploy to unsettle the witness.
Pro Tip 2/3Possibly Deceptive
May imply a degree of cunning or deceit, not always an honest move.
Her friendliness was just a ploy to discover my secrets.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Driven
Understand the scenario to interpret if 'ploy' signifies smart tactics or underhanded tricks.
His extravagant dinner invitation was a ploy for a business contract.
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Video examples
The story behind the...
Parliament cooked up a new strategy. Now the East India Company would sell the surplus tea directly through hand-picked consignees in America. This would lower the price to consumers, making British tea competitive with the smuggled variety while retaining some of the taxes. But the colonists saw through the British ploy
Video examples
Do 9 out of 10 dentists...
you know that's not statistically significant. It's just a marketing ploy. So the next time you see one of these ads, What were people actually asked? What's gone unsaid? And what was the survey context? Hopefully, with those three questions and a little bit of skepticism,
Video examples
Eradicating the Guinea...
got the word and he became interested and now we have zero cases clever peaceful threat remember that sometimes I got kind of angry with us but uh it works nice the man was just thrown it down you know that is that is I mean that is a great little ploy you know
Video examples
TED2014 in review PIPE...
really loved him and what he did but of course you know I don't know I guess it's the girl and me all I wanted Christa asked him is what about your girlfriend what happened to your girlfriend you just left her and was this not just an elaborate ploy to get
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
they circle the herd try to unsettle it and spit it up but the Bison are armed and dangerous they will be safe as long as they stick together the Wolves up their game hurrying the herd a ploy to trigger a stampede and spit away one of the smaller ones
Video examples
How college loans...
how much money he or she will make from a given college and major. Such informed users are unlikely to fall victim to the huckster's ploy, to the sales pitch. But also to choose wisely. Why would anybody pay more for college
Video examples
Jeffrey Brown: How we...
that need to change if we're going to be a better society. But there is this political ploy to try to pit police brutality and police misconduct against black-on-black violence. But it's a fiction.
Video examples
The surprising reasons...
Some animals even feign death as a sexual ploy. Male nursery spiders offer gifts of silk-wrapped insects in hopes of wooing females. But those females are known to eat love-seeking males.
Video examples
Chameleon Tries to Get a...
male he advances she adjusts her skin shade reflecting her weariness but the male continues his forward march now the females panic and she tries another ploy she gulps air to
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
as long as they stick together the wolves upped their game hurrying the herd a ploy to trigger a stampede and spit away one of the smaller ones
Video examples
The story behind the...
Parliament cooked up a new strategy. Now the East India Company would sell the surplus tea directly through hand-picked consignees in America. This would lower the price to consumers, making British tea competitive with the smuggled variety while retaining some of the taxes. But the colonists saw through the British ploy
Video examples
Do 9 out of 10 dentists...
you know that's not statistically significant. It's just a marketing ploy. So the next time you see one of these ads, What were people actually asked? What's gone unsaid? And what was the survey context? Hopefully, with those three questions and a little bit of skepticism,
Video examples
Eradicating the Guinea...
got the word and he became interested and now we have zero cases clever peaceful threat remember that sometimes I got kind of angry with us but uh it works nice the man was just thrown it down you know that is that is I mean that is a great little ploy you know
Video examples
TED2014 in review PIPE...
really loved him and what he did but of course you know I don't know I guess it's the girl and me all I wanted Christa asked him is what about your girlfriend what happened to your girlfriend you just left her and was this not just an elaborate ploy to get
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
they circle the herd try to unsettle it and spit it up but the Bison are armed and dangerous they will be safe as long as they stick together the Wolves up their game hurrying the herd a ploy to trigger a stampede and spit away one of the smaller ones
Video examples
How college loans...
how much money he or she will make from a given college and major. Such informed users are unlikely to fall victim to the huckster's ploy, to the sales pitch. But also to choose wisely. Why would anybody pay more for college
Video examples
Jeffrey Brown: How we...
that need to change if we're going to be a better society. But there is this political ploy to try to pit police brutality and police misconduct against black-on-black violence. But it's a fiction.
Video examples
The surprising reasons...
Some animals even feign death as a sexual ploy. Male nursery spiders offer gifts of silk-wrapped insects in hopes of wooing females. But those females are known to eat love-seeking males.
Video examples
Chameleon Tries to Get a...
male he advances she adjusts her skin shade reflecting her weariness but the male continues his forward march now the females panic and she tries another ploy she gulps air to
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
as long as they stick together the wolves upped their game hurrying the herd a ploy to trigger a stampede and spit away one of the smaller ones
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jeremy Lin
American Athlete
With all the media attention, all the love from the fans, I felt I needed to prove myself. Prove that I'm not a marketing tool, I'm not a ploy to improve attendance. Prove I can play in this league. But I've surrendered that to God. I'm not in a battle with what everybody else thinks anymore.
Quote examples
Glenn Hoddle
British Athlete
As England manager I always felt we needed an extra man in midfield to retain the ball, but that was more as an attacking ploy to help create opportunities. It came from my experience playing international football in a 4-4-2 and spending half my time chasing the ball.
Quote examples
Thundercat
American Musician
It doesn't even feel like racism is real. It just feels like the weirdest ploy, like we're just being had on so many levels. It's even kind of funny when you think about it. A reason not to like someone is 'because you're black.' C'mon, man. How dumb is that?
Quote examples
Ed O'Neill
American Actor
I'd loved to wear jeans and t-shirts, but everybody was in the peace movement back then. And that was my ploy. I had to be careful not to say things like 'I like meat.' Actually I just wanted to drink beer and to screw.
Quote examples
Barbara Olson
American Journalist
Al Gore seems to have found a great political ploy: Picking up whatever issue he is most vulnerable on and championing the cause. Perhaps he will start to champion perjury statutes and obstruction of justice.
Quote examples
Marc Veasey
American Politician
It is clear that the photo ID requirement is not a solution to a problem but is instead a political ploy to prevent traditionally disenfranchised populations from voting for the candidates of their choice.
Quote examples
Hal Sparks
American Actor
You'd think after 8 years of things called 'The Patriot Act' and 'No Child Left Behind' they would know that we have figured out the 'Call it what it ain't' PR ploy by now, but... um... no.
Quote examples
Kiki Dee
English Musician
I realised when I sang at family parties and Christmases I'd suddenly get everyone's attention, and, being the youngest of three, I thought what a brilliant attention-seeking ploy it was.
Quote examples
Cory Gardner
American Politician
There's an old saying in politics: You never run the same race twice. Democrats are running the same race three, four, five times. It's an old ploy, and Coloradans see through it.
Quote examples
George Grosz
German Artist
It's an old ploy of the bourgeoisie. They keep a standing 'art' to defend their collapsing culture.
Quote examples
Jeremy Lin
American Athlete
With all the media attention, all the love from the fans, I felt I needed to prove myself. Prove that I'm not a marketing tool, I'm not a ploy to improve attendance. Prove I can play in this league. But I've surrendered that to God. I'm not in a battle with what everybody else thinks anymore.
Quote examples
Glenn Hoddle
British Athlete
As England manager I always felt we needed an extra man in midfield to retain the ball, but that was more as an attacking ploy to help create opportunities. It came from my experience playing international football in a 4-4-2 and spending half my time chasing the ball.
Quote examples
Thundercat
American Musician
It doesn't even feel like racism is real. It just feels like the weirdest ploy, like we're just being had on so many levels. It's even kind of funny when you think about it. A reason not to like someone is 'because you're black.' C'mon, man. How dumb is that?
Quote examples
Ed O'Neill
American Actor
I'd loved to wear jeans and t-shirts, but everybody was in the peace movement back then. And that was my ploy. I had to be careful not to say things like 'I like meat.' Actually I just wanted to drink beer and to screw.
Quote examples
Barbara Olson
American Journalist
Al Gore seems to have found a great political ploy: Picking up whatever issue he is most vulnerable on and championing the cause. Perhaps he will start to champion perjury statutes and obstruction of justice.
Quote examples
Marc Veasey
American Politician
It is clear that the photo ID requirement is not a solution to a problem but is instead a political ploy to prevent traditionally disenfranchised populations from voting for the candidates of their choice.
Quote examples
Hal Sparks
American Actor
You'd think after 8 years of things called 'The Patriot Act' and 'No Child Left Behind' they would know that we have figured out the 'Call it what it ain't' PR ploy by now, but... um... no.
Quote examples
Kiki Dee
English Musician
I realised when I sang at family parties and Christmases I'd suddenly get everyone's attention, and, being the youngest of three, I thought what a brilliant attention-seeking ploy it was.
Quote examples
Cory Gardner
American Politician
There's an old saying in politics: You never run the same race twice. Democrats are running the same race three, four, five times. It's an old ploy, and Coloradans see through it.
Quote examples
George Grosz
German Artist
It's an old ploy of the bourgeoisie. They keep a standing 'art' to defend their collapsing culture.
Example 1 of 10
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