ploy

Everyday

A clever trick or plan used to get an advantage or to make someone do something. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, games and advertising, a ploy is a sneaky plan: a "free gift" can be a ploy to make you buy more. In sport, a ploy is a tactic to fool the other side. Media literacy lessons teach children to spot marketing ploys.

Examples

• The "free" toy was a ploy to get us to buy more cereal. tree →
• Pretending to be ill was a ploy to miss the test. tree →
• The team used a clever ploy to win the ball. tree →
• The fox's ploy was to flatter the crow. tree →
• Adverts use ploys to make you want things. tree →
• His ploy didn't work; Mum saw through it. tree →

Note

Countable. Short, informal-neutral word. Similar: trick, tactic, scheme. In shop maths, a "buy 3 for the price of 2" offer only saves money if you actually need 3.