The Blue Badge Scheme is the equivalent of our Handicapped Driver Tags in the USA. If you are disabled, you may be able to park in restricted areas under the Blue Badge Scheme. The scheme is for drivers and passengers. The part I find interesting is the British use of the word “scheme.” This is not limited to Blue Badges. There is a Financial Assistance Scheme for Pensioners, Government Mortgage Schemes, Cycle to Work Schemes, and Retail Card Schemes. “Where I come from…” anything with the word “scheme” in it is suspect, synonymous with “fraudulent and conniving.” It takes some getting used to, trusting that all these schemes have our best interest in mind. Still, it reminds me of Snidely Whiplash…
photo courtesy of Movieboozer.com
Making Life an Art 
Haha I’m with you! I’ve always been suspicious of the word “scheme” as well ;P Enjoying your posts so far
I think the internet ate my comment yesterday (the advice was about if you can’t see yourself in someone else’s mirrors they can’t see you… and make sure you physically check by turning your head and not just relying on your mirrors as there are so many blind spots, oh and look twice for bikes!)
I’d never thought about the word scheme before, but you’re right we Brits use it for many different positive uses.
Mars xx
@TrollbeadBlog from
Curling Stones for Lego People
Definitely turning your head to look as well as mirrors are vital when taking the road test. Grounds for failure if not!
I was wondering where you were going with this Gail, and ended up laughing. 😂 It’s fascinating how words change their meaning in different cultures.
@freya from Life as Freya – http://blog.fatema.in
Oh yea. Finding many examples of this
Interesting how words can mean such different things. This can happen within a country too. Different dialects. Years ago I commuted an hour within New Jersey for work and experienced differences in the same state.
That’s crazy!
That’s a really good point. I have never really thought about using the word “scheme” and how it has a negative vibe. We even have play scheme here where children go to have days out etc in the summer holidays. That sounds so sinister now!
Debbie
Apologies for tainting the word for you…:)
This is cool. The word “scheme” in the US does have a negative connotation. It probably does take some getting used to.
A whole new mindset!
Well, so far I don’t think I qualify for any of the British “schemes” so I’ll most likely just ignore them
I never knew the word scheme was exclusively negative in the US – we do use it that way, e.g.. ‘you scheming fiend!’, but, as you have pointed out, we also have lots of schemes that are not ‘scheming’ – we also have colour schemes for rooms and outfits – now you’ve got me giggling as I think about an evil genius creating a colour scheme designed to destroy his nemesis (for some reason, I keeping thinking of Zoolander)!
Sophie
Sophie’s Thoughts & Fumbles | Wittegen Press | FB3X
Wow. You’ve just take my little thought to a whole new level!
Hmmm…and this is where regional connotation is so important. Who knew! But then, I find nothing threatening about the word schematic, so perhaps the connotation is more misplaced in American lingo than I ever thought. 🙂
I think you are right!
How interesting. Thank you for sharing that fun fact.
Thanks for stopping by!
Scheme Is always a suspicious word..
Scheme is to plot something; good or bad, but Society nornally leans to the latter. Programme would work better, you know.
Exactly. But nobody asked our opinion so they didn’t get it right
Not related to driving, but here’s another one: syndicate, which is what the Brits call a group of grad students admitted into a program in the same semester (which we’d call a cohort in the US). A friend got her MBA in Australia and I always had to suppress a snicker when she talked of her syndicate as I was picturing mob bosses with textbooks.
Haha! Nice!
This is fantastic. It does make me think that everything they are doing with “Scheme” in the name means they are plotting something! Perhaps our government should take note –I mean it is not like the American people trust government as is anyways, might as well as scheme to everything!
It’s like, at least they are up front and open about all their “scheming!”
This is informative yet entertaining too Gail! It is always fascinating how language differs and evolves too! 😀
Now I am terribly curious to ‘see’ the Blue Badge! Oh well till I do I guess it will be Snidely Whiplash all the way 😉 Interesting post!
Thanks Dahlia! My bad, I should have included a picture of a Blue Badge…
Color scheme is about the only scheme I can think of that isn’t scary or suspicious! Have fun with the challenge!
@ScarlettBraden from
Frankly Scarlett
As someone who has always been an Anglophile and rarely notices the differences in dialect, I too always found this word to be suspect!
Good! I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking this is not the best choice of word for what they are trying to convey.
Ha! For a second I thought that was a picture of the blue badge itself. But then I though “wait…”
It certainly makes it sound shady, as someone from the other side of the pond. 😉