The term fair game, now meaning a legitimate target for criticism or attack, comes from hunting law rather than board games or sports. Game first referred to contests and amusements such as athletic matches or backgammon, then by the 14th century also meant wild animals hunted for sport. Fair game originally meant animals that could be lawfully hunted in the proper season or circumstances. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Why Does Fair Game Mean a Legitimate Target for Criticism?”
I always thought the expression fair game, you know, like someone said it was fair game for being criticized or whatever.
I always thought fair game came from the idea of game is, you know, backgammon or checkers or tennis or something.
Oh, I thought of it as hunting.
That’s exactly what it is.
Yeah, game originally referred to an athletic contest or something like backgammon. In the 13th century, game referred to something like an athletic contest or backgammon.
And by the 14th century, it applied to wild animals who were caught or killed for sport.
And it was later that sense of wild animals as game that gave us the term fair game, game that may be lawfully hunted.
Oh, so if it’s the right season for it and you have a permit, it’s fair game.
Yeah, it’s a legitimate target.
