Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the game

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.69 in modern English

Syllables: on the game
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Working as a thief.

British usage; Archaic; Slang

prep_phrase

Working as a prostitute.

British usage; Slang

Example Sentences

"He put her on the game (had her taught thieving)."
"Oh please go on the game. It's a steady job and you'd be working from home."
"What's he want it for anyway? Don't tell me he's going on the game."
"I remember him. He was on the game, wasn't he? A bum boy."

Etymology

From game (“fun, a fun activity, the fun of the chase, hunters' prey”), used in reference to sex since Old English and in particular reference to prostitution originally as lady or girl of the game in Early Modern English. In modern contexts, compare with the similar euphemistic use of sport.

Usage

British usage
Archaic
Slang

Inflected Forms

upon the game (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

gamester

Synonyms

in the racket on the bash on the beat on the turf

Questions

What does on the game mean?: Working as a thief.
Where does on the game come from?: From game (“fun, a fun activity, the fun of the chase, hunters' prey”), used in reference to sex since Old English and in particular reference to prostitution originally as lady or girl of the game in Early Modern English. In modern contexts, compare with the similar euphemistic use of sport.

How to pronounce on the game

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