game /geɪm/► SEE ALLblow/sod this/that for a game of soldiersyour/sb’s (little) gamethe game is not worth the candlethe game is upgive the game away(be/go) on the gamethe only game in townplay the gameplay sb’s gameplay the same game (as sb)what’s sb’s/your game?a (whole) different/new ball gamebeat sb at their own gameeasy gamefair gamebe a mug’s gamethe name of the gamea/the numbers gamethe rules of the gamehave/put skin in the gametwo can play at that gamea waiting game ●blow/sod[taboo] ˈthis/ˈthat for a game of soldiers (BrE, slang) used by sb who does not want to do sth because it is annoying or involves too much effort（嫌太讨厌或麻烦而不愿意做某事）算了吧◆After waiting for twenty minutes more, he thought ‘sod this for a game of soldiers’, and left. 又等了二十分钟以后，他想：“真麻烦，算了吧”，就离开了。●your/sb’s (little) ˈgame (informal) your/sb’s trick, plan or intention（某人的）雕虫小技；（小）把戏；（小）算盘◆So that’s your little game — getting me moved to a different office and then doing my job for me. 这就是你打的那点鬼主意：把我调到别的办公室，然后顶替我的职位。●the ˌgame is not worth the ˈcandle (old-fashioned, saying) sth is not worth the effort needed得不偿失；不值一试◆After trying to get permission to build the office for a whole year, we gave up, because the game was just not worth the candle. 我们为获得许可建立这个事务所努力了整整一年，之后放弃了，因为所费的力气太不值得了。ORIGINIn the past, candles were used for light at night. If a game or an activity was not worth the cost of the candles required to light the room, it was not worth playing or doing.旧时，夜间用蜡烛照明，如果你所做的事情或消遣不值得你为之点蜡照亮房间，就不值得去做了。●the game is ˈup (BrE, informal) said to sb who has done sth wrong, when they are caught and the crime or trick has been discovered（用于告诉被抓住的人其阴谋或罪行已败露）游戏结束了，完蛋了◆The game’s up, Malone. We’re arresting you for the murder of Joe Capella. 游戏结束了，马隆。我们以谋杀乔 ∙ 卡佩拉的罪名逮捕你。◆The game is up for the Democrats. They’ll never win the next election after this scandal. 民主党人完蛋了。这次丑闻之后，他们绝不可能赢得下次大选。●give the ˈgame away (informal) (accidentally) reveal your own or another person’s secret plan, trick, etc. and so spoil it（无意间）泄露秘密，露馅儿◆Don’t laugh when he comes in or you’ll give the game away. The birthday present’s got to be a surprise. 他进来的时候可别笑，不然就露馅儿了，一定要让这个生日礼物给他一个惊喜。◆He can’t keep a secret, so never tell him anything important in case he gives the game away. 他嘴不严，千万别告诉他什么重要的事，免得他走漏风声。OPPkeep sb guessing●(be/go) on the ˈgame (BrE, slang) be/become a prostitute卖淫；做妓女●the only game in ˈtown (informal) the most important thing of a particular type, or the only thing that is available同类中最重要的事物；唯一的选择◆When it comes to selling technology, our company is the only game in town. 谈到出售技术，我们公司是行业内的老大。◆It may not be great, but right now it’s the only game in town. 这或许不算太好，但眼下这是唯一的选择。●play the ˈgamebehave in a fair and honest way办事公道；为人正直◆That’s the third time this week you’ve left me to finish all your work. You’re not playing the game, Luke. 这是你本周以来第三次让我来完成你的工作了，卢克，你办事不公道。●play sb’s ˈgame●play the same ˈgame (as sb) ( play sb at their own ˈgame) use the same methods as a competitor, an opponent, an enemy, etc.以其之道，还治其身◆Safeway started cutting their food prices, so Asda decided to play them at their own game by cutting prices even more. 西夫韦超市开始降低食品价格，于是阿斯达超市决定以其人之道还治其人之身，降价的幅度更大。●what’s sb’s/your ˈgame? (BrE, spoken) used to ask why sb is behaving as they are在搞什么把戏；怎么了◆Dan’s looking very nervous. Why? What’s his game? 丹看上去很紧张，怎么回事？他在搞什么？●a (whole) different/new ˈball game (informal) a completely different kind of situation完全不同的情况；全新的局面◆They used to go out every night, but now they’ve got a baby it’s a whole new ball game.他们以前每天晚上都出去，可是现在有了小孩，情况完全不同了。●beat sb at their own ˈgamebe more successful than sb in their special activity, sport, etc.; defeat sb using their own methods赢某人的看家本领；在某人拿手的方面超过某人；以其人之道还治其人之身◆If you thought someone was trying to cheat you, would you challenge him or try to beat him at his own game?如果你认为有人企图欺骗你，你会质问他还是以其人之道还治其人之身？●ˌeasy ˈgamea person or thing that is easy to attack, criticize, or make a victim易攻击的对象；容易上钩的受害者◆Customers who know nothing about cars are easy game for dishonest dealers.对汽车一窍不通的顾客很容易被不诚实的经销商欺骗。●fair ˈgameif a person or thing is said to be fair game, it is considered acceptable to play jokes on them, criticize them, etc.可开玩笑（或抨击等）的对象◆The younger teachers were considered fair game by most of the kids.大多数孩子觉得跟年轻老师可以开玩笑。NOTE In this idiom, game refers to birds and animals that people hunt for sport or food.这个习语中的 game 原指猎物。●be a ˈmug’s game (disapproving, especially BrE) an activity which brings little or no benefit to you徒劳无功的事；无利可图的事◆Don’t start smoking — it’s a mug’s game.不要尝试吸烟，这对你有害无益。◆The money’s terrible in this job — it’s a real mug’s game.这个工作赚钱很少，傻瓜才会干。NOTEMug here means ‘fool’. * mug 此处意为“傻瓜”。●the name of the ˈgame (informal) the thing that is considered central or really important in a particular situation（在特定场合下）事情的关键，最为重要的方面◆Survival is the name of the game when you’re in the jungle.在丛林中，生存下来才是关键。◆In the art world good publicity is the name of the game, not talent.在艺术界，最重要的是宣传，而不是才华。●a/the ˈnumbers gamea way of considering an activity, etc. that is concerned only with the number of people doing sth, things achieved, etc., not with who or what they are数字游戏（即只注重参与的人数及实现的结果等，而不考虑参与者的身份或背景）◆Candidates were playing the numbers game as the crucial vote drew closer.在关键的表决临近时，候选人玩起了数字游戏。●the rules of the ˈgamethe standards of behaviour that most people accept or that actually operate in a particular area of life or business游戏规则；处事规则；（大多数人接受的）行为标准◆It was a very competitive and aggressive business, so I had to learn the rules of the game very quickly.这一行竞争激烈，所以我得迅速掌握其中的游戏规则。●have/put skin in the ˈgame (NAmE, especiallybusiness商业) take an active interest in the success or failure of a particular project, activity, etc. because you are involved in a personal or financial way与参与或投资的项目、活动等利害相干◆If you want someone to make efficient choices, they have to have a little skin in the game.要想有人高效地进行决策，就必须让他们的切身利益与项目成败相挂钩，促使他投身其中。ORIGINThis expression was first used by the US investor Warren Buffett to describe a situation in which senior managers own or buy shares in the company that they manage and so have a personal interest in the company’s success or failure.这个表达法最初由美国投资家沃伦 ∙ 巴菲特所使用，用以描述资深经理拥有或购买自己公司的股票，从而使公司的成败关乎个人利益。●ˌtwo can play at ˈthat game (saying) used when you threaten to behave as badly, etc. as sb has just behaved towards you（表示要进行报复）这一套你会我也会◆‘He told the boss that you were going home early every day.’ ‘Oh did he? Well, two can play at that game. I think I’ll tell the boss about him coming in late every morning.’“他跟老板说你每天都早退。”“哦，是吗？好吧，这一套他会我也会。我就去告诉老板他每天早上都迟到。”●a ˈwaiting gamea policy of delaying making a decision or doing sth because this puts you in a stronger position伺机而动的策略；拖延战术◆They’re playing a waiting game, delaying their offer until they know what the others are offering.他们采用了观望战术。等到弄清别人的报价之后，再报出自己的价格。
