game
"on one's game,"
1. Sports. playing well:
You need to recruit experienced players who will be on their game coming straight off the bench.
2. performing well, or as well as usual:
She’s been noticeably sharper and really on her game since she came back from vacation.
"off one's game,"
1. Sports. playing badly:
The pregame trash talk from our rivals was meant to throw us off our game, but we rose above it.
2. not performing as well as usual:
The showrunner and her writers are off their game, and episodes this season drag on without the humor and lightness fans had come to expect.
"play games,"
to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others:
Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!
"play the game" (informal):
1. to act or play in accordance with the rules.
2. to act honorably or justly:
We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.
"talk a big / good game,"
to make exaggerated claims or promise extraordinary results:
The PR team talks a big game, but revenue for their department has been flat for three years running.
"make game of,"
to make fun of; ridicule:
to make game of the weak and defenseless.
"give the game away,"
to reveal one's intentions or a secret.
"the game is up,"
there is no longer a chance of success.
"game as Ned Kelly" or "as game as Ned Kelly" (Australian, informal):
extremely brave; indomitable.
"die game,"
1. to die after a brave struggle.
2. to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat:
He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.
Origin:
First recorded before 1000; Middle English gamen, Old English gaman; cognate with Old High German gaman “glee”. Adjective 2: 1780–90; perhaps shortening of gammy, though change in vowel unclear. Dictionary 2: Old English gamen; related to Old Norse gaman, Old High German gaman amusement. Adjective 2: C18: probably from Irish cam crooked. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of game: Noun: before the 12th century. Adjective (1): 1752. Verb: 1512. Adjective (2): circa 1787. History and Etymology for game: Noun: Middle English game, gamen "delight, amusement, play, contest, pursuit of animals in sport," going back to Old English gamen, gomen "amusement, jest, pastime," going back to Germanic *gamano- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German gaman "amusement," Old Norse gaman "sport, amusement"), of uncertain origin. Adjective (1): derivative of game entry 1 (earliest in phrase to die game "to meet death resolutely"). Verb: derivative of game entry 1. Adjective (2): of obscure origin. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
1. Sports. playing well:
You need to recruit experienced players who will be on their game coming straight off the bench.
2. performing well, or as well as usual:
She’s been noticeably sharper and really on her game since she came back from vacation.
"off one's game,"
1. Sports. playing badly:
The pregame trash talk from our rivals was meant to throw us off our game, but we rose above it.
2. not performing as well as usual:
The showrunner and her writers are off their game, and episodes this season drag on without the humor and lightness fans had come to expect.
"play games,"
to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others:
Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!
"play the game" (informal):
1. to act or play in accordance with the rules.
2. to act honorably or justly:
We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.
"talk a big / good game,"
to make exaggerated claims or promise extraordinary results:
The PR team talks a big game, but revenue for their department has been flat for three years running.
"make game of,"
to make fun of; ridicule:
to make game of the weak and defenseless.
"give the game away,"
to reveal one's intentions or a secret.
"the game is up,"
there is no longer a chance of success.
"game as Ned Kelly" or "as game as Ned Kelly" (Australian, informal):
extremely brave; indomitable.
"die game,"
1. to die after a brave struggle.
2. to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat:
He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.
Origin:
First recorded before 1000; Middle English gamen, Old English gaman; cognate with Old High German gaman “glee”. Adjective 2: 1780–90; perhaps shortening of gammy, though change in vowel unclear. Dictionary 2: Old English gamen; related to Old Norse gaman, Old High German gaman amusement. Adjective 2: C18: probably from Irish cam crooked. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of game: Noun: before the 12th century. Adjective (1): 1752. Verb: 1512. Adjective (2): circa 1787. History and Etymology for game: Noun: Middle English game, gamen "delight, amusement, play, contest, pursuit of animals in sport," going back to Old English gamen, gomen "amusement, jest, pastime," going back to Germanic *gamano- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German gaman "amusement," Old Norse gaman "sport, amusement"), of uncertain origin. Adjective (1): derivative of game entry 1 (earliest in phrase to die game "to meet death resolutely"). Verb: derivative of game entry 1. Adjective (2): of obscure origin. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.