Dictionary

on the game en · ADP

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

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.

Meanings

1. (UK, archaic, euphemistic, idiomatic, slang) Working as a thief.
   • He put her on the game (had her taught thieving). 1928, M.C. Sharpe, Chicago May, page 33:
2. (UK, euphemistic, idiomatic, slang) Working as a prostitute.
   • I remember him. He was on the game, wasn't he? A bum boy. 1999 September 12, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Dead Man's Eleven”, in Midsomer Murders:
   • What's he want it for anyway? Don't tell me he's going on the game. 1990 November 18, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
   • Oh please go on the game. It's a steady job and you'd be working from home. 1986 January 9, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Bells (Blackadder II), episode 1, spoken by Kate's Father (Edward Jewesbury):

Forms

Relateds

gamester

Synonyms

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

Translations (4)

cmn 卖淫 (working as a prostitute (euphemism)) · ru на пане́ли (working as a prostitute (euphemism)) · fi alalla (working as a prostitute (euphemism)) · pt da vida (working as a prostitute (euphemism))