Phrase Finder

Meaning

The game is up

Categorised in: 135 Phrases coined by William Shakespeare

What's the meaning of the phrase 'The game is up'?

The original meaning was 'the game is over - all is lost'. More recently it has come to be used to mean ' we have seen through your tricks - your deceit is exposed'.

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay - caption

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘The game is up’?

From Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, 1611:

Euriphile, Thou wast their nurse; they took thee for their mother,
And every day do honour to her grave:
Myself, Belarius, that am Morgan call’d,
They take for natural father. The game is up.

Historical trend

“The game is up” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1800–2020).

180018201840186018801900192019401960198020002020
  • The game is up