mind game
2
4.9
- noun
- /maɪnd ɡeɪm/
:
juego de ingenio
- Chess is not just a match of pieces; it's a mind game that tests your strategic thinking.
Examples
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Interesting mind game, to be sure—but almost certainly a mind game rather than "real" news.
Blog text (10) -
What Russian mind game does this guy know how to play that no one else knows?
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To channel your inner social media person, play this mind game with yourself.
Blog text (3) -
Try it; it's a good mind game to play when running gets a bit boring.
Blog text (3) -
A mathematician once told me that all of math is a mind game.
Fiction book (2000) -
It is a mental challenge and is one of the most exciting mind games in the reverse engineering field.
Blog text (11) -
Interesting mind game, to be sure—but almost certainly a mind game rather than "real" news.
Blog text (10) -
During the interview, she played a mind game by asking tricky questions to gauge his problem-solving skills.
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He enjoys playing puzzles as a mind game that sharpens his logical abilities.
Synonyms
610
1.9
A game or problem that tests how well you think
4
6.1
A contest where people try to outsmart each other, for example in a debate or game
Antonyms
How Challenging
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound links 'mind' (mental processes) with 'game' (a maneuver or contest), so a learner who knows both words can probably infer that it refers to a mental/psychological maneuver. However, the specific nuance of deliberate manipulation or intimidation is metaphorical and not fully predictable without exposure, so the transparency is partial.
Etymology
Mind game probably began as a plain idea: a game for your mind, like chess or puzzles that train thinking. So it now means 'a game or activity that challenges your mind'.