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Russian roulette

noun

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

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Russian roulette¹

First recorded in 1935–40

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"It's like playing Russian roulette and getting the bullet."

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That creates what Mr Willison describes as an "immunological Russian roulette", triggering an "acute neurological tsunami" that surges through the peripheral nervous system.

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"We're playing a bit of a Russian roulette game," warns Prof England.

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Probabilities may seem abstract, but think of it like Russian roulette: Our lives are at stake, and the fossil fuel industry keeps adding bullets to the cylinder.

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But his trauma runs deep, as encapsulated by a shocking scene in which he tries to leverage information out of someone — by playing Russian roulette with them.

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Related Words

Russian Revolution Russian salad

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