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Glite Dictionary
fair game

fair game

39 5.2
An easy target for people to criticize or attack
  • noun
translation icon : blanco legítimo
  • Everything is fair game for our manipulations if useful to our work.
  • become fair game

Material that is covered today and on Thursday will be fair game for the exam.

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Examples

  • If you're gonna run for office, your past is fair game.

    Spirited (2022)

  • All their children and kin came under her surveillance, and were fair game for comment.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Unfortunately, personal lives are becoming more and more fair game.

    Bonnie & Clyde: Justified (2013)

  • Anything else is fair game.

    The Wedding Pact (2014)

  • Anyone seems fair game for you tonight.

    Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

  • As for comments, all comments are fair game and subject to attack.

    Blog text (3)

  • It's all fair game in journalism.

    Girls Trip (2017)

  • Spirited opposition to the political goals of a religious group is fair game in a free society.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Current events were fair game; a lovely issue was devoted to writers' reactions to 9/11.

    Academic text (2007)

  • In the world of politics, every decision made is fair game for analysis and debate.

Synonyms

target
vsfair game
649 3.5

A person chosen for attack or criticism

is viewed as an acceptable or permitted object for attack
prey
vsfair game
60 5.6

A person who others attack, trick, or make fun of

is considered acceptable to criticize or pursue
easy target
vsfair game
34 3.5

A person or thing people attack and take advantage of because it is weak

is judged acceptable to attack even when vulnerability is absent

Antonyms

protected
1 2.0

Kept safe from harm or danger

Surface Forms

fair game singular
fair games plural

Morphology

fair + game

The meaning 'a legitimate target' is partially derivable: 'game' can metaphorically mean prey/target and 'fair' can be extended to mean permissible, but this sense requires a figurative shift from the basic adjective 'impartial' and the noun 'game'. Because the idiomatic permissibility sense is not an immediately literal composition of the constituents for learners without exposure, it is best classed as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Fair game may come from old fairs or shooting shows where the animals, the game, were put out at the fair for anyone to shoot, so they were open to be taken by hunters. So, calling someone 'fair game' means they are an 'allowed target' for criticism, jokes, or attack.