fast and loose
adverb
1
: in a reckless or irresponsible manner
played fast and loose with the public purse strings
Paul Stuewe
Paul Stuewe2
: in a craftily deceitful way
manipulated evidence … and played fast and loose with the truth C. V. Woodward
C. V. Woodward
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web According to Zatko, Twitter played fast and loose with security, and in a way that might violate a settlement the company reached in 2011 after the FTC alleged major lapses in its data-security practices. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 Corruption of various sorts has been present since at least the 1890s, when some schools played fast and loose with eligibility rules. Bob Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 The trio behind Player 2 have the utmost respect for the rules governing the game and would never play as fast and loose in a tournament setting. Mike Dojc, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Team Herodotus is made up of bold synthesizers, and can sometimes play fast and loose with the sources. Dominic Green, WSJ, 20 May 2022 The Barretts’ experience suggests that Sparks’s other works may have been based on real source material, but also that her use of such material was fast and loose. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 While the Clintons could play fast and loose with the precise truth, so many scandals of the 1990s were concocted out of a few pieces of paper and a gust of wind. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 June 2022 There is evidence these companies play fast and loose with privacy. Washington Post, 4 May 2022 From otherworldly Ziggy Stardust to the ethereal Thin White Duke, Bowie played fast and loose with style, musicality and sexuality throughout an unrelenting five-decade career. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 5 May 2022 See More
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 Corruption of various sorts has been present since at least the 1890s, when some schools played fast and loose with eligibility rules. Bob Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 The trio behind Player 2 have the utmost respect for the rules governing the game and would never play as fast and loose in a tournament setting. Mike Dojc, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Team Herodotus is made up of bold synthesizers, and can sometimes play fast and loose with the sources. Dominic Green, WSJ, 20 May 2022 The Barretts’ experience suggests that Sparks’s other works may have been based on real source material, but also that her use of such material was fast and loose. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 While the Clintons could play fast and loose with the precise truth, so many scandals of the 1990s were concocted out of a few pieces of paper and a gust of wind. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 June 2022 There is evidence these companies play fast and loose with privacy. Washington Post, 4 May 2022 From otherworldly Ziggy Stardust to the ethereal Thin White Duke, Bowie played fast and loose with style, musicality and sexuality throughout an unrelenting five-decade career. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1