on the game

English

Etymology

UK late-19th century. However, the game as a euphemism for sexual activity dates to at least Troilus and Cressida (1602): "Set them down / For sluttish spoils of opportunity / And daughters of the game." Compare with the similar euphemism sport.

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

on the game

1. (UK, idiomatic, slang, euphemistic) Working as a prostitute.

   Synonyms: in the racket, on the bash, on the beat, on the turf

   • 1986 January 9, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Bells (Blackadder II), episode 1, spoken by Kate's Father (Edward Jewesbury):

     Oh please go on the game. It's a steady job and you'd be working from home.

   • 1990 November 18, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:

     What's he want it for anyway? Don't tell me he's going on the game.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:prostitute

Related terms

• gamester (“prostitute”)

Translations

working as a prostitute (euphemism)

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 卖淫 (zh) (màiyín)

• Finnish: alalla (fi)
• Russian: на пане́ли (na panɛ́li)