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Showing results for Russian roulette. Search instead for russian roulette.
Synonyms

Russian roulette

American  

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 British  

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Russian roulette

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We can’t play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions of people,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

"For governments to allow private entities to essentially play Russian roulette with every human being on earth is, in my view, a total dereliction of duty," said Russell, a prominent voice on AI safety.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

“This was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies,” Morrissey said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

She says she felt risks were being taken by the two midwives and it had been "almost like a game of Russian roulette".

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2024

No one ever liked being sent back to the agency, of course, entering into the Russian roulette of a brand-new home.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.