plot

noun

/plɒt/

/plɑːt/

Idioms

[countable, uncountable] the series of events that form the story of a novel, play, film, etc.故事情节；布局
- It's hard to follow the plot of the film.很难跟上电影的情节。
- plot about something a conventional plot about love and marriage传统的婚恋故事情节
- The book is well organized in terms of plot.这本书的故事布局十分严谨。
- Plot twists (= unexpected developments) keep you guessing throughout the series. 情节曲折（=意想不到的发展）让你在整个系列中不断猜测。
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.她构思了复杂的故事情节，里面人物众多。
- The main plot revolves around a suspicious death.主要情节围绕着一个可疑的死亡事件展开。
- There are several unexpected twists in the plot before the murderer is revealed.杀人凶手身分揭开之前，故事情节出现了几次意想不到的转折。
- This car chase does nothing to advance the plot.这场车辆追逐对剧情发展毫无作用。
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
[countable] a secret plan made by a group of people to do something wrong or illegal阴谋；密谋 synonym conspiracy
- He had been the victim of an elaborate murder plot.他是一场精心策划的谋杀阴谋的受害者。
- plot to do something The rebels hatched a plot to overthrow the government.叛乱分子策划了推翻政府的阴谋。
- plot against somebody Police uncovered a plot against the president.警方侦破了一起针对总统的阴谋。
- They had taken part in a Jacobite plot against William III.他们参加了英王詹姆斯二世追随者反对威廉三世的密谋。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- evil
- fiendish
- alleged
- …
verb + plot
- hatch
- uncover
- foil
- …
preposition
- plot against
- plot by
[countable] a small piece of land that is used or intended for a special purpose（专用的）小块土地
- She bought a small plot of land to build a house on.她买了一小块地盖房子。
- a vegetable plot一块菜圃
Synonyms land
landlot ▪ ground ▪ space ▪ plotThese 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农业用地
lot (North American English) a piece of land that is used or intended for a particular purpose:
building lots建筑用地
a parking lot停车场
ground an area of land that is used for a particular purpose :
The kids were playing on waste ground near the school.孩子们在学校附近的荒地玩耍。
the site of an ancient burial ground古代墓地遗址
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.这座城市有很多开阔的空地。
the wide open spaces of the Canadian prairies加拿大一片片广袤的草原
plot a small piece of land used or intended for a particular purpose:
She bought a small plot of land to build a house.她买了一小块地盖房子。
a vegetable plot一块菜圃
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.这些地块每一块长20 米，宽10 米。
- They own a five-acre plot of land.他们拥有一块 5 英亩的土地。
- He was buried in the family plot at the cemetery.他葬在公墓中的家族墓地里。
Topics Buildingsc2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- garden
- vegetable
- farm
- …
verb + plot
- work
plot + verb
- measure something
phrases
- a plot of land

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迷惘；不知所措

the plot thickens

(humorous) used to say that a situation is becoming more complicated and difficult to understand情况变得复杂起来

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/

[intransitive, transitive] to make a secret plan to harm somebody, especially a government or its leader密谋；暗中策划 synonym conspire
- plot with somebody It is claimed he plotted with the country's enemies.据称他与该国的敌人密谋。
- plot against somebody/something They were accused of plotting against the state.他们被指控密谋叛国。
- plot with somebody against somebody/something He was accused of having secretly plotted with Tipu against the British.他被指控与蒂普秘密密谋反对英国人。
- plot to do something They were plotting to overthrow the government.他们在密谋颠覆政府。
- She constantly plotted and schemed to catch me in some sort of lie. 她不断地策划和策划用某种谎言来抓住我。
- plot with somebody to do something Taylor plotted with his daughter to murder her husband.泰勒与女儿策划杀害女儿的丈夫。
- plot something Military officers were suspected of plotting a coup.人们怀疑军方在策划政变。
- She spends every waking hour plotting her revenge.她清醒的每时每刻都在策划着复仇。
- They used the internet to plot their murderous attacks. 他们利用互联网策划谋杀袭击。
Extra Examples
- He was arrested on suspicion of plotting against the king.他由于涉嫌图谋反对国王而被捕。
- The killings were carefully plotted and not impulsive.谋杀是精心策划的，不是出于一时冲动。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- allegedly
- secretly
- carefully
- …
preposition
- against
- with
phrases
- accuse somebody of plotting something
[transitive] plot something (on something) to mark something on a map, for example the position or course of something（在地图上）画出，标出
- The earthquake centres had been plotted on a world map.地震震中均被标示在一张世界地图上。
- He plotted a new route across the Atlantic.他规划了一条横跨大西洋的新路线。
- The positions of the archaeological finds are accurately plotted.图上精确地标绘出考古发现的位置。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
[transitive] plot something (on something) to make a diagram or chart from some information绘制（图表）
- We carefully plotted each patient's response to the drug on a chart.我们仔细绘出了每个病人对这种药物反应的图表。
- Greenhouse temperature can be plotted against plant growth.可以用图表显示温室的温度相对于植物生长的情况。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
[transitive] plot something (on something) to mark points on a graph and draw a line or curve connecting them绘制（图表的曲线）
- First, plot the temperature curve on the graph.首先，在图表上绘出温度曲线来。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- accurately
preposition
- against
- on
[transitive] plot something to write the plot of a novel, play, etc.（为小说、戏剧等）设计情节，布局
- a tightly-plotted thriller情节丝丝入扣的惊险刺激小说
Topics Literature and writingb2