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

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

From Washington Times • Nov. 14, 2022

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

When all the surveillance techniques on those information databases work, it's like three lemons lining up on a one-armed bandit.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2018

"We were only ex-per-i-ment-ing—" "There's their crooked experimenting right there!" said Okie, pointing a finger at the deactivated one-armed bandit.

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