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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

fair play en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) Good behavior; conduct (in sports or another endeavor) that is respectful of the rules, the spirit of the activity, and the adversary.
    • The result, eventually, was the conviction of Mr. Hiss on charges of perjury. But the feature that especially appealed to me was the reputation that Congressman Nixon had achieved for fairness in the investigating process. Not once had he overstepped the limits prescribed by the American sense of fair play or American rules applying to such investigations. He did not persecute or defame. 1963, Dwight Eisenhower, Mandate for Change 1953-1956, Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 46:
    • Financial fair play – talked about as if it is somehow nothing to do with the way the club is run, an imposition upon their work rather than a consequence of the way they work – meant that they could not spend what they do not generate. 2017 January 18, Sid Lowe, “Chaos at Mestalla: Valencia's journey from Champions League to utter disarray”, in the Guardian:

Relateds

play fair · turnabout is fair play

Translations (36)

fr fair-play (good behavior) · sv fair play (good behavior) · ru игра́ по пра́вилам (good behavior) · hu fair play (good behavior) · id saling menghormati (good behavior) · el ευ αγωνίζεσθαι (good behavior) · pl fair play (good behavior) · pt fair play (good behavior) · bew sucèng (good behavior) · nrf fèrre-pliaie (good behavior) · gl xogo limpo (good behavior) · ru че́стная игра́ (good behavior) · gd cothrom na Fèinne (good behavior) · ar لَعْب عَادِل (good behavior) · ga cothrom na Féinne (good behavior) · cy chwarae teg (good behavior) · mk фер плеј (good behavior) · ko 페어플레이 (good behavior) · hu tisztesség (good behavior) · fr franc-jeu (good behavior) · de Fairplay (good behavior) · el φερ-πλέυ (good behavior) · el φερ πλέυ (good behavior) · ca joc net (good behavior) · ja フェアプレー (good behavior) · de Fair Play (good behavior) · fr fairplay (good behavior) · hu korrektség (good behavior) · mk фер игра (good behavior) · sv rent spel (good behavior) · bg честна игра (good behavior) · es juego limpio (good behavior) · pt jogo limpo (good behavior) · mk ферплеј (good behavior) · ky калыс оюн (good behavior) · ro fairplay (good behavior)

fair play en · X

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

  1. (Ireland, UK, colloquial) used to acknowledge or congratulate for something.
    • I wasn't expecting much of Ms Dynamite at the start of the night, but fair play to her, she's got a great voice on her. 2002 October 30, "Acquiesce", “Re: noel and chris at fair play gig”, in alt.music.oasis (Usenet):
    • The Gaelic Athletic Association, fair play to them, want absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with that thingumajig football tournament in America. 1994 June 21, Liam Hayes, “GAA's holding its own now, but could lose in the end”, in Irish Voice, archived from the original on 21 Apr 2016:
    • Liam Watson: "Fair play to Southport, they were the best team on paper because they got the most points. We just want to prove we are as good as them". 2010 May 7, “Clayton sure buoyant Reds are up to the task of seeing off Fleetwood”, in Derby Evening Telegraph:
    • [S]he consolidated her position by purchasing the kennels, doing them up regardless of expense and buying two new horses, and, fair play to her, fair play, as they say in Wales, ... 1964, Charles Norman De Courcy-Parry, Here lies my story, page 248:
    • "Fair play to Jean, he has made it work for him." 1990 July 1, Joe Saward, quoting Martin Donnelly, “Interview: Martin Donnelly”, in The Business of Motorsport Newsletter, archived from the original on 16 Oct 2017:

Relateds

tip one's hat · good on you · good for you