on the game
English
Etymology
UK late-19th century.[1] However, the game as a euphemism for sexual activity dates to at least Troilus and Cressida (1602):[1] "Set them down / For sluttish spoils of opportunity / And daughters of the game." Compare with the similar euphemism sport.[2]
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Prepositional phrase
- (UK, idiomatic, slang, euphemistic) Working as a prostitute.
- Synonyms: in the racket, on the bash, on the beat, on the turf
- 1986 January 9, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Bells (Blackadder II), episode 1, spoken by Kate's Father (Edward Jewesbury):
- Oh please go on the game. It's a steady job and you'd be working from home.
- 1990 November 18, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
- What's he want it for anyway? Don't tell me he's going on the game.
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:prostitute
Related terms
- gamester (“prostitute”)
Translations
References
- Siefring, Judith, editor (2005), The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN
- Holder, R. W. (2008) Dictionary of Euphemisms, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, game (the), page 191
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