game

1 /geIm/ noun

1 ACTIVITY OR SPORT (C)

a) an activity or sport in which people compete with each other according to agreed rules: What's your favorite game? | Dan's never liked card games.

b) an occasion when a game is played: Did you see the game on TV last night? | Let's have a game of chess.

c) your game how well you play a particular game: raise/improve your game: Liam's taking lessons to improve his game.

d) games a large organized sports event: the Olympic Games

e) BrE organized sports as a school subject or lesson: We have games on Thursdays.

—compare match 1 (2), —see also: ball game, board game, war game

2 PART OF A MATCH (C) one of the parts into which a single competition is divided, for example in tennis or bridge 1 (4): Graf leads, two games to one.

3 CHILDREN'S GAME (C) a children's activity in which they play with toys, pretend to be someone else etc: a game of hide-and-seek | Look! Now you've spoilt our game!

4 BE A GAME (C) to be something that you do to enjoy yourself rather than for a serious purpose: Some of those kids think life's just a game.

5 play games/silly games (with) to behave in a dishonest or unfair way in order to get what you want: Are you sure he's really interested, and not just playing silly games with you?

6 give the game away to spoil a surprise or secret by doing or saying something that lets someone guess what the secret is: Lynn gave the game away by laughing when Kim walked in.

7 ANIMALS/BIRDS (U) wild animals, birds, and fish that are hunted for food, especially as a sport

—see also: big game

8 beat/play sb at their own game to beat someone or fight back against them by using the same methods that they use: Jackie decided to play Dean at his own game and left without paying the bill..

9 what's her game/your game etc? spoken used to ask what the true reason for someone's behaviour is: Reg is being very nice all of a sudden. What's his game?

10 advertising/public relations etc game informal the profession of advertising etc

11 a game of chance a game in which you risk money on the result: Poker is a game of chance.

12 the game's up spoken used to tell someone that something wrong or dishonest that they have done has been discovered: Come on, Don. The game's up. I know where you've hidden it.

13 be on the game slang to be a prostitute

14 make game of old-fashioned to make fun of someone

—see also: fair game, away game/match away 2, fun and games fun 2 (4), the name of the game name 1 (13) 2 adjective

1 willing to try something dangerous, new, or difficult: If you're game, we can do it now.

(+ for): We're game for a change. | game to do sth: “Who's game to have a try?”

2 game leg old-fashioned an injured or painful leg

— gamely adverb