machinations
machinations — 名詞
1. Secret, carefully planned actions that people take in order to gain power, influ
陰謀；算計
為獲取權力或利益的祕密策劃
Secret, carefully planned actions that people take in order to gain power, influence, or an advantage — often involving dishonest or tricky methods.
The journalist uncovered the political machinations behind the new trade deal.
這位記者揭露了新貿易協定背後的政治算計。
collocation: political machinations
Layla discovered the financial machinations her boss had been using to hide company losses.
Layla 發現了她的老闆用來隱瞞公司虧損的財務陰謀。
collocation: financial machinations
The company's rise rested on secret machinations that a court later uncovered.
這家公司的崛起建立在後來被法院揭發的祕密算計之上。
Voters grew tired of the backroom machinations of party leaders during the election.
選民們對選舉期間政黨領袖的幕後操弄感到厭倦。
Adaeze grew tired of the office machinations and moved to a smaller company.
Adaeze 厭倦了辦公室的勾心鬥角，轉而去了一家較小的公司。
- intrigue
Suggests secret plotting within a group, often with an air of mystery or romance; less openly dishonest than machinations
- scheming
More informal; focuses on the act of making clever, often dishonest plans; can describe a person's general behavior rather than a specific plot
- manipulation
Emphasizes controlling or influencing people for your own purposes; can be more individual and less institutional than machinations
- conspiracy
A secret plan by a group to do something illegal or harmful; more specific and often implies a single coordinated plan rather than ongoing scheming
文法句型
the machinations of [person/group]
[adjective] machinations
machinations behind [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (machinations) even though the meaning is collective. The singular form 'machination' is extremely rare in modern English. Subject is typically a group or system of power (political party, corporation, government) rather than an individual.