the game is up


the game is up

The plan or scheme has been discovered and/or thwarted; the game, trick, or deception is at an end. The game is up, Smith! The police found your fingerprints all over the safe. We tried to smuggle a kitten into the house, but when Mom saw me carrying a saucer of milk, I knew that the game was up.See also: game, up

game is up

 and jig is upFig. The illegal activity has been found out or has come to an end. When the police were waiting for them inside the bank vault, the would-be robbers knew that the game was up. "The jig is up!" said the cop as he grabbed the shoulder of the pickpocket.See also: game, up

game is up, the

Also, the jig is up. The trick or deception has been exposed. For example, When they took inventory they realized what was missing, and the game was up for the department head . This expression dates from the mid-1800s and uses up in the sense of "over" or "lost." The variant employs jig in the sense of "trickery," a usage dating from about 1600. See also: game

the game is up

COMMON If the game is up for someone, they can no longer continue to do something wrong or illegal, because people have found out what they are doing. Both runners, once the game was up, admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. He saw the blue lights of the police van behind him and, sensing the game was up, stopped his car.See also: game, up

the game is up

the plan, deception, or crime is revealed or foiled.See also: game, up

the game is ˈup

(British English, informal) said to somebody who has done something wrong, when they are caught and the crime or trick has been discovered: The game’s up, Malone. We’re arresting you for the murder of Joe Capella. ♢ The game is up for the Democrats. They’ll never win the next election after this scandal.See also: game, up