# fair shake

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fair-shake
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Reasonable, unbiased treatment; a fair deal.

## Examples

- Everyone deserves a fair shake in life.
- The new manager promised to give every employee a fair shake during the annual performance reviews.
- Although the evidence seemed stacked against him, the judge insisted that the defendant receive a fair shake before the jury reached a final verdict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.