scheme, verb transitive

Forms:
Also skeem.
Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
slang
To think or ‘reckon’ (something).
1970 B. Hansen Informant, Durban, KwaZulu-NatalYou..scheme you’re a joller, hey. (You think you’re just the guy, hey.)
1972 M. Develin on Radio South Africa 25 Jan.That ou schemes he’s like a mainman (that gentleman considers himself to be a big cog in a small machine).
1972 A. Scoby on Radio South Africa 23 MayYou scheme you’d do that? You’d graft, work?
1985 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at Palace 26What you scheme this is? A bloody party?
1985 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at Palace 79Scheme, think, reckon, figure.
1985 Vula Oct. 15She checks her step-father’s reaction, ‘Bloody Kaffirs’, and she skeems ‘shame’.
1987 G. Silber in Style Aug. 46‘Say you want to buy the Ferrari for R10, can you pay by cheque. What do you scheme?’ The barman schemes nooit. He’s not going to make a fool of himself.
1987 Scope 6 Nov. 36Jimmy schemed that ‘suicide by dynamite’ would be a kiff idea.
1991 C.L. Ward Informant, Cape Town, Western CapeScheme. Think, when implying planning or uncertainty. I scheme it’d be tomorrow. Scheme you can change my mind?
1991 G. De Beer Informant, Port Nolloth, Northern CapeI scheme it could work.
To think or ‘reckon’ (something).
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