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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

number games en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) A numbers game: the use of inappropriate statistics (numbers) to reflect a desired result (usually misleading).
    • To many of their compatriots, politicians seem an innately frivolous breed. […] When they have to retire backstage, they spend their time playing number games, plotting new combinations, making and unmaking coalitions. 2011, David Gilmour, The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples, page 389:
    • This sounds like we are playing number games, and I wonder if 20000 megawatts is a realistic guess. 1980, United States House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production, (transcript of the proceedings about the) Omnibus Geothermal Energy Legislation, page 159
    • "In other words, they were playing number games with an author so they didn't look bad to their investors. They do it a lot." 2006, Liam Miller, Memento Mori:
  2. (form-of, plural) plural of number game: lotteries, numbers games.
    form of number game
    • Like several other northeastern states, New York has also legalized various forms of lottery and number games. 1990, John Dombrink, William Norman Thompson, The Last Resort: Success And Failure In Campaigns For Casinos, page 99:
    • The functional argument also encompasses the "victimless crime" issue: prostitution, narcotics, and number games are illegal, yet they flourish and are indeed eagerly sought out by everyday citizens. 1993, Peter DeLeon, Thinking About Political Corruption, page 36:

Relateds

numbers game