Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver: "A typical ploy is to feign illness, procure medicine, then sell it on the black market” ( Jill Smolowe).
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Employment.
- n. A harmless frolic; a merrymaking.
- Milit., to move from line into column: the opposite of deploy.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Sport; frolic.
- v. To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of
deploy .
WordNet 3.0
- n. a maneuver in a game or conversation
- n. an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the speaker
Etymologies
- Perhaps from employ, employment (obsolete).
Examples
“Some of the candidates running against incumbent PDP governors also say they're not allowed to place adverts and programs on state media, which they call a ploy to deny them access to the public.”
Voice of America: Nigerian Opposition Candidates Complain About Meeting Place Restrictions
“Then it dawned on me; this ploy is the latest twist on the old Nigerian email scam.”
The Huffington Post: Harmon Leon: For the Love of Viagra Spam and the 419 Email Scam
“Using strategies as a political ploy is one thing, but the ONLY reason that they are turning on Crist is he took the stimulus money to help the citizens of Florida!”
“The "fire at St. Louis destroyed my records," ploy is not valid, either.”
“The "I can't compromise classified information," ploy is phony.”
“The "I had my records expunged" - or "I had my name taken off the list" ploy is just as phony.”
“The, 'I can't compromise classified information,' ploy is phony," he said.”
“It was a long time ago, ploy is weak and unacceptable.”
“The biggest flaw with the cycletrack idea, besides it probably being a ploy, is that there are too many intersections on their suggested route.”
Ballard Businesses Propose Missing Link Alternative « PubliCola
“More than likely a ploy from the vast left-wing conspiracy to spread misinfromation to the masses.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘ploy’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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