SCHEME

[noun] [C] - a plan for obtaining an advantage for yourself, esp. by deceiving othersHe's got a hare-brained/crazy/daft scheme for getting rich before he's 20.They've devised a scheme to defraud the government of millions of dollars. [+ to infinitive](esp. UK) A scheme can also be any officially organized plan or system.a training/housing schemea pension/savings schemeThere's a new scheme in our town for recycling plastic bottles.The council is organizing a play scheme for 7- to 11-year-olds.A scheme of things is what is thought about the organization or state of everything in a particular situation.When he became president he tried to change the structure of government to fit into his scheme of things.I was disappointed not to get the job, but it's not that important in the great scheme of things (= when all things are considered).