Russian roulette
Americannoun
noun
-
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
-
any act which, if repeated several times, is likely to have disastrous consequences
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.
The best that the rest of us can do, like unwilling participants in a game of Russian roulette, is shut our eyes and hope.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
“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
Iain Jenkins said Eljamel "played Russian roulette" with his spine during the 1999 private operation carried out while he was captain of Dundee United.
From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026
“It’s dangerous, like playing Russian roulette with the volcano,” grumbled Skamania Sheriff Bill Closner.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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.
