one-armed bandit

American  

[wuhn-ahrmd] / ˈwʌnˌɑrmd /

Or onearm bandit

noun

Informal.

1. slot machine.

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one-armed bandit British  

noun

1. a fruit machine operated by pulling down a lever at one side

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one-armed bandit Idioms  

1. A slot machine, as in It's amazing how many people think they can make money playing a one-armed bandit. This term refers to both appearance and function: the operating lever looks like an arm, and the machine in effect robs players, since it “wins” and keeps the player's money in an overwhelming majority of instances. [c. 1930]

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Etymology

Origin of one-armed bandit

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-armed bandit

In politics, the one-armed bandit is the best friend you are going to find.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 14, 2022

Whenever the store's one-armed bandit had to be serviced, Isaac would watch the repairman open the machine and expose its secrets.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2020

And the slot machines – digital and complex – have come a long way from the days of the one-armed bandit.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 23, 2019

I’d barely glance out the car window at the casino-studded skyline, which didn’t interest someone who preferred a flaming effigy to a one-armed bandit.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 13, 2019

The one-armed bandit finally coughed out its last quarter.

From Jubilation, U.S.A. by Vandenburg, G. L.