name of the game, the

Slang definitions & phrases for name of the game, the

name of the game, the

noun phrase
  1. What matters most; the essence: In business, the name of the game is the bottom line/ Good gun dogs are the name of the game
  2. The inevitable; the way things are: Telling lies in politics? Hell, that's just the name of the game (1966+)

Idioms and Phrases with name of the game, the

name of the game, the

The crux of the matter; also, the main goal. For example, Getting them to admit they're wrong—that's the name of the game, or Parents don't approve of a coach who insists that winning any way one can is the name of the game. This rhyming idiom uses name in the sense of “identity.” [ Mid-1900s ]