ploy
UK: plɔɪ | US: plɔɪ
n. a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage
n. (archaic) a tactic or maneuver in a game or contest
The word "ploy" originates from the Middle French verb ployer, meaning "to bend" or "to fold." Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe a strategic "twist" or maneuver in games or conflicts, eventually settling into its modern sense of a clever tactic. The shift from physical bending to mental strategy reflects the word's logical progression in meaning.
His clever ploy to distract the guard allowed the team to sneak in unnoticed.
The politician's latest ploy to gain public sympathy backfired.
In chess, a well-timed ploy can decide the outcome of the game.
She saw through his ploy to avoid paying the bill.
The marketing ploy attracted thousands of new customers.