plot

Fig. to plot something; to make a plot. The children brewed an evil plot to get revenge on their teacher. We brewed a plot so that we would not have to help with dinner.

to make a scheme against someone or something. All the counselors plotted against the czar. We plotted against the opposing party.

to draw a route or outline on something. He plotted the course they would be taking on a map of the area. The captain plotted the course on a chart of the upper reaches of the Nile.

to map something out; to outline a plan for something. I have an idea about how to remodel this room. Let me plot it out for you. I plotted out my ideas for the room.

Things are becoming more complicated or interesting. The police assumed that the woman was murdered by her ex-husband, but he has an alibi. The plot thickens. John is supposed to be going out with Mary, but I saw him last night with Sally. The plot thickens.

to scheme with someone. Mary looks as though she is plotting with Jerry to make some sort of mischief. I am not plotting with anyone. I am planning everything myself.

something has become more complicated or interesting The plot thickens as police investigate dozens of deaths at a California hospital.

to become crazy I was waking up in the middle of the night, not knowing who I was or where I was. I really thought I was losing the plot.

something that you say when something happens which makes a strange situation even more difficult to understand I had assumed the Irishman who keeps phoning June was her husband, but it seems her husband is American. The plot thickens.

Circumstances are becoming very complex or mysterious. Today this term is often used ironically or half-humorously, as in His companion wasn't his wife or his partner-the plot thickens. Originally (1671) it described the plot of a play that was overly intricate, and by the late 1800s it was used for increasingly complex mysteries in detective stories.