3
   

plot on the compound

 
 
WBYeats
 
Reply Tue 1 Oct, 2013 09:22 pm
-Many US and European embassies around the Middle East remain closed because of fears about a potential terrorist attack in the region. Washington claims to have intercepted messages by al-Qaeda agents talking about a plot on a Western diplomatic compound.

Does PLOT ON A ... necessarily mean PLOT AGAINST here? Could it be interpreted as the location where the agents talked about the plot was in/inside the compound?
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 717 • Replies: 6
No top replies

 
dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Oct, 2013 11:43 am
@WBYeats,
Quote:
….where the agents talked about the plot was in/inside the compound?
Very unlikely WB. What might make you think so
0 Replies
 
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Oct, 2013 11:50 am
@WBYeats,
WBYeats wrote:
Does PLOT ON A ... necessarily mean PLOT AGAINST here? Could it be interpreted as the location where the agents talked about the plot was in/inside the compound?


A plot (meaning conspiracy) "on" something is a plot against something. A plot on the King's life is a plot to kill the King. A plot on the Presidency is a plot to take over that office. A plot on an embassy is a plot to attack that embassy. It would not be interpreted as meaning that the location where the agents talked about the plot was in or inside the compound.



0 Replies
 
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Oct, 2013 03:35 pm
@WBYeats,

Quote:
Could it be interpreted as the location where the agents talked about the plot was in/inside the compound?


Yes it could, although the context leads us to the other meaning.

A "plot on a compound" is not a very good phrase, although it serves as a useful shorthand. (the word "attack" is missing)

"A plot on his life" is better, because we know from that wording that the plotters mean to kill him.

Btw if the word "plot" is used, as a verb, you know that some criminality is intended.
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Oct, 2013 03:41 pm
@McTag,
McTag wrote:

Btw if the word "plot" is used, as a verb, you know that some criminality is intended.


Not if the person doing the plotting is a navigator or someone drawing a graph.


McTag
 
  1  
Reply Wed 2 Oct, 2013 03:43 pm
@contrex,
Ah, good point there. I must be more careful in future. Embarrassed
0 Replies
 
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Thu 3 Oct, 2013 04:30 am
Thank you~
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

deal - Question by WBYeats
Let pupils abandon spelling rules, says academic - Discussion by Robert Gentel
Please, I need help. - Question by imsak
Is this sentence grammatically correct? - Question by Sydney-Strock
"come from" - Question by mcook
concentrated - Question by WBYeats
 
  1. Forums
  2. » plot on the compound
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.03 seconds on 10/15/2024 at 07:13:56