fair play

noun

1. just and honorable treatment, action, or conduct.

   The political campaign was notably lacking in fair play.

fair play

noun

1. an established standard of decency, honesty, etc

2. abidance by this standard

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair play¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Idioms and Phrases

Conformity to established rules; upright conduct and equitable conditions. For example, The coach insists on fair play. Shakespeare used this idiom in King John (5:2): “According to the fair play of the world, let me have audience.” [Late 1500s] Also see turnabout is fair play.

Example Sentences

I also think it’s fair play to talk about alcohol and sporting events.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Most people expected Chelsea to go on and win it, so fair play.

Read more on BBC

Holt said that if comedians were going to go to Riyadh and make jokes about the state, and "call out Khashoggi", then "I'd say fair play to them - but they won't".

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The lie, he insisted, was fair play — because the part where there are Haitian immigrants living in the U.S. is true.

Read more on Salon

Fair play to Leeds, they have really surprised and impressed me so far.

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Related Words

• civil rights 
• coordination 
• equal opportunity 
• fairness 
• identity 
• impartiality 
• parity 
• tolerance