marplot
Definition
- Noun (countable):
- A person who spoils or hinders a plan or undertaking through meddling or ineptitude: "marplot" refers to an individual whose ill-timed or foolish actions ruin the success of an enterprise, often due to excessive interference or lack of skill.
Usage Examples
- (A person whose meddling ruined the project's momentum.)
- (An inept or interfering individual who spoils collective efforts.)
- (A person whose actions hindered a military plan.)
Advanced Usage
"to play the marplot": to act in a way that deliberately or inadvertently ruins a scheme.
- She played the marplot by revealing the surprise party details. (She spoiled the plan by disclosing confidential information.)
"a marplot in the works": an obstacle or meddler that obstructs progress.
- The new regulations proved to be a marplot in the works for our expansion. (The regulations hindered the plan.)
Variants and Related Words
- Marplot (n) is a compound of "mar" (to spoil) and "plot" (a plan or scheme). No common variants exist, but related words include:
- Mar (v): to damage or spoil.
- A single mistake can mar the entire project. (To spoil or impair.)
- Plot (n): a plan or scheme.
- They devised a clever plot to win the competition. (A strategic plan.)
Synonyms
- Meddler: a person who interferes in others' affairs without being asked.
- Spoiler: someone or something that ruins an experience or plan.
- Bungler: a person who makes mistakes due to clumsiness or ineptitude.
- Hindrance: something that causes delay or obstruction.
Related Idioms
"To throw a wrench in the works": to cause a plan to fail by introducing an unexpected problem.
- His sudden resignation threw a wrench in the works. (It disrupted the plan.)
"To upset the applecart": to spoil a carefully arranged plan or situation.
- The marplot upset the applecart by revealing the secret. (He ruined the arrangement.)
Phrasal Verbs (None directly associated with "marplot")
- Mar (v) is not commonly used in phrasal verbs; "mar" is a standalone verb.