in the game

English

(idiomatic, sports) Competing in a game, with a chance of winning.
Synonyms: in the running, in the hunt
- 2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC‎^[1]:
  Foster had been left unsighted by Scott Dann's positioning at his post, but the goalkeeper was about to prove his worth to Birmingham by keeping them in the game with a series of stunning saves as West Ham produced waves after wave of attack in their bid to find a crucial second goal.
(idiomatic) Focused; engaged; serious.
He's seriously doing badly in school right now. He needs to get back in the game, or he's gonna drop out.
- 2010, Mick Herron, Slow Horses, page 246:
  This wouldn't wipe the slate, but would show he was still in the game.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: in the game.