numbers game
1
9.0
- noun
- /ˈnʌmbərz ɡeɪm/
- NSFW
:
lotería ilegal
- So Rove only had to play his numbers game and his sink-the-others primary technique to squeak Bush over the finish line by a handful of votes in Florida.
Examples
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It's a numbers game.
Blog text (32) -
Last night, his friend lost money by betting on the numbers game that was held outside the local convenience store.
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We killed many more, so obviously we were winning the numbers game.
Blog text (34) -
Like when you think about horse betting and the numbers game, this was off track betting, you know what I'm saying?
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It's a numbers game.
Blog text (32) -
Saffiedine, with a win over Marquardt, would have a better shot, but he and Santiago are in a numbers game at welterweight.
Blog text (34) -
The police arrested several people for running an illegal numbers game in the neighborhood.
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She was wary of participating in the numbers game because it was known for its lack of regulation.
Synonyms
199
2.3
A game where people buy numbered tickets and winners are chosen by chance
49
4.4
A game where players mark numbers on a card and hope to win money
1
9.9
An illegal lottery where people secretly bet on numbers
1
3.4
A game where people bet money and can win or lose
1
9.9
An illegal lottery where people secretly bet to win money
An illegal daily game in cities where people bet money to guess the winning digits
An illegal game where people bet money on numbers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is partly compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'numbers' (numerical data) and 'game' (an activity/contest) can infer it refers to an activity or contest driven by numbers or statistics. However, the precise sense — that outcomes depend mainly on metrics or probabilistic calculation rather than individual qualities, sometimes implying strategic manipulation — is a pragmatic extension that is not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
The noun numbers game comes from old street lotteries where people bet a few coins on a chosen number and waited for a daily draw. Playing that secret game to win cash is why the phrase means 'an illegal lottery'.