game

n

1. amusement, diversion, distraction, divertissement, pastime, entertainment; recreation, sport, play, fun, merriment, frolic; merrymaking, merriment, joviality, jollity, jollification; tomfoolery, foolery, mummery, buffoonery, clowning around, horseplay, Sl. monkey business; escapade, spree, prank.

2. contest, competition, match, tourney, regatta, meet, joust, duel; tournament, bout, round, encounter, engagement, athletic event; run-off, sudden death, showdown; Olympics, (in ancient Greece) agon, decathlon, marathon, (in ancient Greece) agonistics.

3. scheme, schema, design, plan, scenario, script; contrivance, stratagem, strategy, device, artifice, shift, invention, trick; machination, wirepulling, manipulation; designs, evil intentions.

4. joke, practical joke, prank, Sl. monkeyshines; jesting, kidding around, fooling around, Sl. goofing.

5. wild animal, wild fowl, prey, quarry, raven.

6.Informal. business, occupation, profession, trade, line; industry, enterprise, Sl. racket.

7. spirit, pluck, mettle, Inf. spunk; backbone, nerve, stamina, hardihood.

8. make game of

ridicule, make fun of, deride, scoff at, mock, jeer; taunt, gibe, rag; rib, kid, Inf. roast, Sl. razz; poke fun at, make a fool out of, make the butt of, Inf. give [s.o.] the needle; lampoon, satirize, parody.

9. play the game

Informal. a. go along with, conform, follow the crowd, do as others do, keep in step, toe the mark, stay in line; give in, defer, compromise.b. play fair, be a good sport, play by the rules, Inf. be up front.c. temporize, straddle the fence, be noncommittal.

adj

10. plucky, spirited, courageous, gamy, valiant, heroic, stout-hearted, lionhearted; bold, intrepid, fearless, dauntless, dreadless, nervy, Sl. gutsy, unafraid, unblenching, unblenched, undaunted, unalarmed, undismayed; daring, dashing, high-spirited, adventurous.

11. willing, favorably inclined, disposed; eager, anxious, interested, enthusiastic, devil-may-care.

v

12. gamble, bet, wager, try one's luck or for tune, make a bet, lay a wager or bet, Inf. shoot craps, Inf. play the ponies; speculate, venture, play the market, play the wheel, play roulette; risk, hazard, dare, tempt Providence. See gamble(defs.1, 2).