in the game

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in the game

1. (idiomatic, sports) Competing in a game, with a chance of winning.

   Synonyms: in the running, in the hunt

   • 2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC‎:

     Foster had been left unsighted by Scott Dann's positioning at his post, but the goalkeeper was about to prove his worth to Birmingham by keeping them in the game with a series of stunning saves as West Ham produced waves after wave of attack in their bid to find a crucial second goal.

2. (idiomatic) Focused; engaged; serious.
   • 2010, Mick Herron, Slow Horses, page 246:

     This wouldn't wipe the slate, but would show he was still in the game.

   He's seriously doing badly in school right now. He needs to get back in the game, or he's gonna drop out.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: in the game.