Russian roulette

noun

1. a game of high risk in which each player in turn, using a revolver containing one bullet, spins the cylinder of the revolver, points the muzzle at the head, and pulls the trigger.

Russian roulette

noun

1. a game of chance in which each player in turn spins the cylinder of a revolver loaded with only one cartridge and presses the trigger with the barrel against his own head
2. any act which, if repeated several times, is likely to have disastrous consequences

Word History and Origins

Origin of Russian roulette¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

That Russian Roulette with his image was probably the only thing keeping him functioning.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• delicate
• dicey
• hazardous
• precarious
• risky
• rugged
• shaky
• threatening
• ticklish
• touchy
• treacherous
• uncertain
• unstable