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to game

to game

31 7.6
To try to get an unfair advantage by using the rules
  • verb
  • /ɡeɪm/
  • Informal
: manipular el sistema
  • You can take the easy road and spend your life trying to game the system, or
  • game the system

Yet seems like they want to game the system.

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Examples

  • There certainly is a degree of gaming the system that goes on, especially in the U.S.

    Blog text (3)
  • As some of our veterans have mentioned, there are people that do game the system because they can.

    Blog text (4)
  • Yet seems like they want to game the system.

  • And of course, Enron was able to game that system.

  • I don't advocate spending a lot of time trying to game the system.

    Blog text (1)
  • Supporters claim the law was needed to stop debtors from gaming the bankruptcy system to be released from their debts too easily.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Our measurement system has gone wonky as too many people profited from gaming the system.

    Blog text (1)
  • The more the system is gamed, the less meaningful the rankings are, and the greater the potential for unintended consequences.

    Academic text (2016)
  • While supporters said the law was needed to keep debtors from gaming the system, opponents contended it enabled its main backers, such as banks.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Many people try to game the system by exploiting loopholes for their own gain.

Synonyms

to use
vsto game
762 6.3

To treat someone only as a way to get what you want

is about exploiting systems and procedural weaknesses rather than using people
to take advantage
vsto game
596 4.6

To use a person or situation to get an unfair benefit for yourself

highlights deliberate rule or procedure manipulation rather than general opportunism
540 2.5

Use someone's trust or weakness to get something unfairly

centers on manipulating formal rules and system weaknesses rather than exploiting people
to cheat
vsto game
502 1.2

To act dishonestly to gain an unfair advantage

emphasizes exploiting system procedures deliberately, not just general rule breaking
to exploit
vsto game
289 5.6

To use someone or something in an unfair way to get an advantage

focuses on manipulating rules and procedures rather than using people or things
to trick
vsto game
289 3.5

To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want

focuses on deliberate manipulation of rules and procedures rather than personal deception
to stack the deck
vsto game
  • Informal
8 7.5

Arrange things unfairly so one person or group wins

is about seeking advantage by manipulating rules rather than only arranging people
to play the angle
vsto game
2 7.7

Use clever or dishonest moves to get an advantage

focuses specifically on exploiting formal rules and system weaknesses deliberately
thumb on the scale
vsto game
  • Informal
2 8.5

To make a process unfair to give someone an advantage

describes deliberately exploiting procedures and weaknesses rather than mere biasing
to rort
vsto game
  • Australian
1 9.9

To get money by unfair use of rules

targets any advantage by deliberately exploiting procedural or system weaknesses
to metagame
vsto game
  • Jargon
1 9.1

To use knowledge outside the game's rules to gain an advantage while playing

is broader, covering any deliberate exploitation of system rules or weaknesses

Antonyms

28 2.3

Act honestly and follow the rules in a game or situation

Idioms

To take part in a contest or activity by following the rules

Not taking part in an activity or competition

42 4.1

An activity for fun that should not be taken personally

Returned to taking part after being away or having problems

18 6.0

The most important thing in a situation or activity

In a better position because you act or prepare earlier than others

To make a big difference in a situation that gives a clear advantage

skin in the game
  • Informal
11 5.3

A personal stake in something like money or reputation

9 7.9

To speak confidently about what you can do without proving it

on the game
  • Informal
5 8.2

Fully focused and ready to do your best

To defeat someone by using their own methods

To stay focused and calm in a difficult situation

1 9.9

An activity that is foolish and unlikely to succeed

1 7.4

Act confident and serious to hide nerves before a challenge

1 8.1

Play aggressively to attack the other team rather than defend

off (one's) game
  • Informal
7.9

Not performing as well as usual in sport or work

on one's game
  • Informal
7.9

Doing something very well and showing your best skill

Phrasal Verbs

947 1.0

To take part in fun activities that have rules

to make game of
  • Offensive
4 8.0

Laugh at someone or treat something serious as a joke

to game out
  • Informal
3 7.2

Think about different possible situations to plan what to do

To tell a secret by accident and spoil a surprise

1 4.9

Work harder to improve your skills and do better

To choose a date and time for a game

6.1

Try to do better to meet higher standards

Compounds

402 1.0

A game you play by controlling pictures on a screen

156 1.0

A match where two teams try to score points by moving a ball into the other team's goal

110 2.3

An important sports event like a championship final that many people watch

80 1.0

A game played with a ball, like baseball or football

80 1.0

A game between two teams where players hit a ball with a bat and run bases

79 3.7

A set of actions that helps a team or person reach a goal

77 1.1

A television program where people compete in games or quizzes to win prizes

A match between two teams of five players to score by throwing a ball through a high hoop

58 2.7

A card game where players bet on having the best cards

53 5.2

An easy target for people to criticize or attack

53 2.3

A sports match played at a team's own stadium or field

49 1.7

A game where players move pieces on a board by following rules

40 1.1

A game played with playing cards, for example poker, that often needs skill or luck

39 1.0

Two teams play on ice using sticks to move a small puck into the other team's goal

running game
  • Specialized
36 3.8

A team's plan to move the ball mainly by running

34 2.8

A game that decides which team moves closer to winning the championship

33 2.0

A game played on a computer for fun or competition

33 7.2

A trick people use to confuse or control someone to gain an advantage

war game
  • Specialized
29 3.9

A practice where soldiers and commanders rehearse battle plans

game time
  • Informal
26 2.7

The moment when an important activity is about to start

passing game
  • Jargon
25 3.6

A series of plays in American football that move the ball by throwing to teammates

23 1.7

The day when an important sports match happens

23 4.9

The activity a person is very good at

20 1.2

A sport on a large outdoor course where players use clubs to hit a small ball into holes

20 2.0

A team game like baseball played on a smaller field with a bigger, softer ball

blame game
  • Informal
19 4.8

People or groups say others caused a problem to avoid taking responsibility

game face
  • Informal
18 6.5

A serious, focused look people make before a challenge

18 3.8

Large wild animals like elephants or lions that people hunt for sport

17 2.8

A sports match played at night under bright stadium lights

pre-game
  • Informal
16 5.4

A small meeting of friends before a party or sporting event to drink and get ready

A set of careful actions people use to gain power in politics

perfect game
  • Specialized
14 6.1

A baseball game where the pitcher allows no player from the other team to reach base

14 1.4

A room with games like table tennis, pool, or video games for fun

14 3.4

A game where people try to find out what something is from small clues

13 3.5

A sports game played at the opponent's place, not at home

13 3.3

A sports match played for practice or fun that does not count in official results

waiting game
  • Informal
13 4.7

A situation where people wait to see what others do to gain an advantage

12 4.5

A situation where success depends on numbers or data more than on skill

12 3.1

A video game with short, fast levels and simple controls that gets harder

12 6.4

A situation where one person's gain is exactly another person's loss

An activity where luck decides the result, like a lottery or roulette

12 3.0

A match that is very hard to win

10 8.8

A cheating street game where someone hides an object under cups and makes people guess where it is

10 1.2

An activity people do with guests to make a social event more fun

9 2.7

A sports match played at the other team's stadium

9 3.0

A game where players make or find words by following rules, like crosswords

game theory
  • Specialized
8 5.6

Study of how people choose actions when they compete or cooperate

7 3.8

A person who protects wild animals and enforces hunting and fishing rules

A strong enjoyment of playing a sport not for money or fame

7 3.9

A game people play indoors for fun at parties

con game
  • Informal
7 6.6

A dishonest trick that cheats people out of their money

A situation with very big risks and important results for people involved

An unofficial game played to improve skills and try new strategies

A game where two teams use their hands to hit a ball over a net to land on opponents' side

5 2.0

A board game for two players who move pieces to trap the other player's king so it cannot move

head game
  • Informal
5 8.6

A trick to confuse or upset someone

crap game
  • Informal
5 8.0

A small group that plays the dice game craps for money

4 2.6

A game played on a table like a board game or card game

4 1.0

A simple game that children play for fun

4 2.2

A sports game played during the day rather than at night

3 4.9

A game or puzzle that makes you think and use your brain

A game where people bet money and can win or lose

A goal kicked near the end of a game that gives the team the win

3 4.4

Wild animals like rabbits and pheasants that people hunt for food or sport

A dishonest trick that gains someone's trust to steal their money

2 3.2

A bird like a pheasant that people hunt for food or sport

game fish
  • Specialized
2 5.0

A fish that people catch for sport, not for food or money

A match where two teams take turns to hit a ball and score runs

1 7.0

A hockey penalty that removes a player for the rest of the game while the team may replace them

1 2.1

A game played outside that involves active play, like soccer or hide-and-seek

A sport or contest that involves physical activity and skill

1 2.5

An outdoor team game played on a large marked grass or turf area like football

Team sport with two 11-player teams trying to move the ball into the other end zone by running or passing

How Manipulative

to defraud
  • Formal
38 6.9
to rig
122 6.9
to cheat
502 1.2
to game
  • Informal
31 7.6
to exploit
289 5.6
to use
762 6.3

Surface Forms

game infinitive
gamed past
gamed past participle
gaming present participle
games third person singular

Etymology

To game a system (verb) comes from the idea of 'playing' the rules to get an advantage, like playing a game to win. So to game the tax code is to 'play' the rules in a way that helps you unfairly.