skin game

noun

1. a dishonest or unscrupulous business operation, scheme, etc.

2. any cheating or fraudulent trick.

skin game

noun

1. slang,  a swindling trick

Word History and Origins

Origin of skin game¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Since men are expected to be moisturizing more anyway, the NBA — the league with the skimpiest uniforms of any major sports league in America — should be in the skin game.

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In the 1971 comedy western “Skin Game,” a chest-length-beard-wearing John Brown appears so crazed that any gains to be made when he disrupts a live slave auction are undermined by the ensuing chaos that he produces in the town.

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His criticism was collected into “Notes of a Hanging Judge,” “The All-American Skin Game” and other books.

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Crouch’s criticism was collected into “Notes of a Hanging Judge,” “The All-American Skin Game” and other books.

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In “Skin Game” in the main space, the maverick performance artist and erstwhile sculptor Michael Mahalchick riffs on appropriation and popular culture.

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