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The meaning and origin of the expression: Fair play

Fair play

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Fair play'?

'Fair play' is the properly conducted conditions for a game, giving all participants an equal chance. The expression is also used more widely to mean fairness and justice in contexts other than games.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Fair play'?

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'Fair play'Shakespeare coined this phrase and used it in several of his plays; for example, The Tempest, 1610:

MIRANDA:
Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
And I would call it, fair play.

The term migrated into 'fair dinkum', which is well-known as an Australian phrase but may have travelled there from England. An unambiguously Australian term meaning the same thing as 'fair play' is the more recent 'fair go'. This is first recorded in the Australian author Lewis Stone's book Jonah, 1911:

"Get set!--get set!" cried the boxer, lolling in his seat with a nonchalant air; and in a twinkling a bright heap of silver lay in front of each player, the wagers made with the gaffers opposite. The spinner handed his stake of five shillings to the boxer, who cried "Fair go!"

See also - foul play.

See other - phrases and sayings from Shakespeare.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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