English Reference
Idiom idiom

fair game


Actions permissible by the rules.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

In this game, all the players are fair game.

CONTEXTUAL

Since he started the argument, his poor logic is now fair game for everyone to criticize.

COMPLEX

Once the politician announced his candidacy, his entire personal history became fair game for the press to investigate.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    away game

    An athletic contest played away from the team's home field.

  2. 02

    back in the game

    Having recovered from a disadvantageous position.

  3. 03

    blame game

    A situation in which people attempt to blame others rather than trying to resolve a problem.

  4. 04

    change the game

    To revolutionize a field of endeavor.

  5. 05

    fair coin

    A sequence of independent Bernoulli trials (a Bernoulli process) with probability 1/2 of success on each trial.

  6. 06

    fair crack of the whip

    Let's have an equitable attempt, match, or process. Used as an appeal for reasonableness.

  7. 07

    fair enough

    An expression used to concede a point, but suggesting that the broader argument is incorrect.

  8. 08

    fair sex

    Women collectively.

Last updated August 10, 2026