plot

noun

/plɒt/

/plɑːt/

Idioms

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[countable, uncountable] the series of events that form the story of a novel, play, film, etc.
- It's hard to follow the plot of the film.
- plot about something a conventional plot about love and marriage
- The book is well organized in terms of plot.
- Plot twists (= unexpected developments) keep you guessing throughout the series.
Wordfinder
- biography
- blockbuster
- book
- character
- editor
- narrator
- novel
- plot
- publish
- title
Collocations Literature
LiteratureBeing a writer
- write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography
- become a writer/novelist/playwright
- find/have a publisher/an agent
- have a new book out
- edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript
- dedicate a book/poem to…
Plot, character and atmosphere
- construct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrative
- advance/drive the plot
- introduce/present the protagonist/a character
- describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villain
- create an exciting/a tense atmosphere
- build/heighten the suspense/tension
- evoke/capture the pathos of the situation
- convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…
- engage the reader
- seize/capture/grip the (reader’s) imagination
- arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)
- lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm
Language, style and imagery
- use/employ language/imagery/humour/(US English) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a device
- use/adopt/develop a style/technique
- be rich in/be full of symbolism
- evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…
- create/achieve an effect
- maintain/lighten the tone
- introduce/develop an idea/a theme
- inspire a novel/a poet/somebody’s work/somebody’s imagination
Reading and criticism
- read an author/somebody’s work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage
- review a book/a novel/somebody’s work
- give something/get/have/receive a good/bad review
- be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
- quote a(n) phrase/line/stanza/passage/author
- provoke/spark discussion/criticism
- study/interpret/understand a text/passage
- translate somebody’s work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem
Wordfinder
- dialogue
- ending
- flashback
- plot
- narrate
- scenario
- scene
- storyline
- tension
- twist
Extra Examples
- She has constructed a complicated plot, with a large cast of characters.
- The main plot revolves around a suspicious death.
- There are several unexpected twists in the plot before the murderer is revealed.
- This car chase does nothing to advance the plot.
Topics Film and theatreb1, Literature and writingb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- simple
- complex
- complicated
- …
verb + plot
- construct
- advance
- give away
- …
plot + verb
- develop
- unfold
- involve
- …
plot + noun
- development
- twist
- device
- …
phrases
- a twist in the plot
- a twist of the plot
See full entry
[countable] a secret plan made by a group of people to do something wrong or illegal synonym conspiracy
- He had been the victim of an elaborate murder plot.
- plot to do something The rebels hatched a plot to overthrow the government.
- plot against somebody Police uncovered a plot against the president.
- They had taken part in a Jacobite plot against William III.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- evil
- fiendish
- alleged
- …
verb + plot
- hatch
- uncover
- foil
- …
preposition
- plot against
- plot by
See full entry
[countable] a small piece of land that is used or intended for a special purpose
- She bought a small plot of land to build a house on.
- a vegetable plot
Synonyms land
land
- lot
- ground
- space
- plot
These words all mean an area of land that is used for a particular purpose.
- land an area of ground, especially one that is used for a particular purpose:
  agricultural land
- lot (North American English) a piece of land that is used or intended for a particular purpose:
  building lots
  a parking lot
- ground an area of land that is used for a particular purpose :
  The kids were playing on waste ground near the school.
  the site of an ancient burial ground
land, lot or ground?Land is used for large areas of open land in the country, especially when it is used for farming. A lot is often a smaller piece of land in a town or city, especially one intended for building or parking on. Ground is any area of open land; a ground is an area of land designed or used for a particular purpose or activity.
- space a large area of land that has no buildings on it:
  The city has plenty of open space.
  the wide open spaces of the Canadian prairies
- plot a small piece of land used or intended for a particular purpose:
  She bought a small plot of land to build a house.
  a vegetable plot
lot or plot?Either a lot or a plot can be used for building on. Only a plot can also be used for growing vegetables or burying people.Patterns
- an open space
- open/empty/vacant/waste/derelict land/ground
- a/an empty/vacant lot/plot
Extra Examples
- The plots each measure 10 metres by 20 metres.
- They own a five-acre plot of land.
- He was buried in the family plot at the cemetery.
Topics Buildingsc2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- garden
- vegetable
- farm
- …
verb + plot
- work
plot + verb
- measure something
phrases
- a plot of land
See full entry

Word Originlate Old English (in sense 3 of the noun), of unknown origin. The sense ‘secret plan’, dating from the late 16th cent., is associated with Old French complot ‘dense crowd, secret project’, the same word being used occasionally in English from the mid 16th cent.

Idioms

lose the plot

(British English, informal) to lose your ability to understand or deal with what is happening

the plot thickens

(humorous) used to say that a situation is becoming more complicated and difficult to understand

plot

verb

/plɒt/

/plɑːt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they plot	/plɒt/ /plɑːt/
he / she / it plots	/plɒts/ /plɑːts/
past simple plotted	/ˈplɒtɪd/ /ˈplɑːtɪd/
past participle plotted	/ˈplɒtɪd/ /ˈplɑːtɪd/
-ing form plotting	/ˈplɒtɪŋ/ /ˈplɑːtɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to make a secret plan to harm somebody, especially a government or its leader synonym conspire
- plot with somebody It is claimed he plotted with the country's enemies.
- plot against somebody/something They were accused of plotting against the state.
- plot with somebody against somebody/something He was accused of having secretly plotted with Tipu against the British.
- plot to do something They were plotting to overthrow the government.
- She constantly plotted and schemed to catch me in some sort of lie.
- plot with somebody to do something Taylor plotted with his daughter to murder her husband.
- plot something Military officers were suspected of plotting a coup.
- She spends every waking hour plotting her revenge.
- They used the internet to plot their murderous attacks.
Extra Examples
- He was arrested on suspicion of plotting against the king.
- The killings were carefully plotted and not impulsive.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- allegedly
- secretly
- carefully
- …
preposition
- against
- with
phrases
- accuse somebody of plotting something
See full entry
[transitive] plot something (on something) to mark something on a map, for example the position or course of something
- The earthquake centres had been plotted on a world map.
- He plotted a new route across the Atlantic.
- The positions of the archaeological finds are accurately plotted.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
See full entry
[transitive] plot something (on something) to make a diagram or chart from some information
- We carefully plotted each patient's response to the drug on a chart.
- Greenhouse temperature can be plotted against plant growth.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
See full entry
[transitive] plot something (on something) to mark points on a graph and draw a line or curve connecting them
- First, plot the temperature curve on the graph.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
See full entry
[transitive] plot something to write the plot of a novel, play, etc.
- a tightly-plotted thriller
Topics Literature and writingb2