What Does “Game Is Game” Mean? (Plus, Where It Comes From)

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Social media slang terms, explained

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: December 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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• “Game is Game” Meaning & Usage
|
• Origin & Spread
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• Is it problematic?
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• “Game Recognizes Game” Meaning
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• Related Slang

|Show more |Show less

You may have seen “game is game” over text and social media, but what exactly does it mean? This slang expression means you can do whatever’s necessary to date or hook up with a girl, even if it means lying or manipulating her. In this article, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about “game is game,” including its origins and spread, why it’s problematic, and how it differs from “game recognizes game.”

“Game Is Game” Definition & Origins

“Game is game” means you can do whatever’s necessary to date or hook up with someone, whether it’s telling a white lie or manipulating them. This often refers to men who are interested in women, and the phrase stems from African American Vernacular English. It became popular in 2023, due to TikTok user @lifeandscarz.

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Section 1 of 5:

“Game is Game” Meaning & Usage

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1. 
   “Game is game” means you can do whatever’s necessary to get with a girl. In pickup culture, “game is game” is another way of saying the ends justify the means. It doesn’t matter if you have to tell a white lie or straight up manipulate a girl, as long as you get her number, secure a date, or hook up with her. “Game” refers to the skills and strategies used to attract women, which includes delivering flirty rizz lines, changing your body language, understanding social dynamics, and building your self-confidence.

   • You: “I can’t believe you lied to get her number.”
     Them: “Game is game!”
   • You: “Did you really just text Tinder girl that you’re over 6’ when you’re 5’8”?”
     Them: “Yeah, man. Game is game 🗣️”
   • You: “I told her that I was a finance bro so she would give me a chance 💀”
     Them: “Eh, game is game. Better update your LinkedIn ASAP 😂”
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Section 2 of 5:

Origin & Spread of “Game Is Game”

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1. 
   “Game is game” stems from African American Vernacular English (AAVE). While the exact origin of “game is game” is unknown, it became popular in rap music during the 1990s. One of the earliest uses of the phrase was in the song “Stories From the Black Book” by K-Rino. In the third verse of the song, K-Rino says, “Game is game yet death is reality,” meaning a person can do everything in their power to get ahead in life but death is inevitable.

   • The phrase gained mainstream popularity in 2023, due to TikTok and Instagram user @lifeandscarz. He would say “game is game” at the end of his “dating advice” videos, which often featured manipulative tactics to attract women.
   • People started reacting to @lifeandscarz’s videos and creating their own memes featuring the phrase. “Game is game 🗣️” also became a popular spam comment, usually under male dating advice videos, which helped the phrase reach a broader audience.

Section 3 of 5:

Is the phrase “game is game” problematic?

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1. 
   Yes, “game is game” is problematic because it encourages manipulation. Lying to someone to date or hook up with them is deemed morally wrong because it takes away their ability to make a decision based on accurate information. True consent in a relationship requires full transparency, and when you lie to someone, it’s a form of manipulation. This type of behavior can cause long-term trauma and distrust for the other person, especially if they’ve been honest and vulnerable the entire time.

   • Overall, “game is game” undermines the key dating principles of honesty, trust, and respect, and it shifts relationships from meaningful and genuine to transactional and one-sided.
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Section 4 of 5:

What does “game recognizes game” mean?

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1. 
   “Game recognizes game” is used when 2 skilled people respect each other. Whether it’s in business, sports, or dating, “game recognizes game” describes the mutual respect and appreciation for people who know what it takes to perform on the highest level. In other words, highly skilled, experienced, and/or knowledgeable individuals can recognize top-performing skills and qualities in others.

   • “Game recognizes game: LeBron James 🤝 Steph Curry”
   • “When I saw how she commanded the room, I had to give her a compliment. Game recognizes game.”
   • “I ran into Leo at a party in Hollywood and had to give him props. Any player would know that game recognizes game.”

Section 5 of 5:

Related Slang

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1. 
   1
   “Rizz” Short for charisma, “rizz” refers to a person’s ability to flirt or attract someone. It’s typically associated with men who are able to pick up women easily, and just generally, come off as smooth and charming. For example, if your guy friend flirts with a girl at the club and gets her number, you could say he has some impressive rizz.

   • “Did you just get her number? Nice rizz, my guy!”
   • “You always land the hottest girls. You’re a rizz god!”
   • “You better save your homeboy from that dime. It looks like his rizz is running low.”
2. 
   2
   “Player” A “player” refers to a man who manipulates (or “plays”) others to get what he wants. He usually has multiple sexual partners at once, and is a master at seducing women and pretending to care about them. In reality, he’s only interested in sex and/or seeing how many people he can attract.

   • “He’s always surrounded by women. He’s such a player 🙄”
   • “Can’t you tell that Chris is a player? All of his followers are female 🚩🚩🚩”
   • “Stay away from her. She doesn’t need players like you chasing her around!”
3. 
   3
   “Peacocking” In the dating world, “peacocking” is when a person shows off their strongest personality traits or appearance to impress someone. It usually refers to men who are interested in women. For example, a man might drive an expensive car, wear designer brands, or flex his muscles to attract attention.

   • “Nathan is peacocking at the club so he can ask a girl for a drink.”
   • “He is totally peacocking for his date. I’ve never seen him brush his hair before 😂”
   • “Ugh, I had the worst date of my entire life. The guy was just peacocking the whole time and wouldn’t let me speak 🤢🤢🤢”
4. 
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   “Catch and release” This is when a person flirts with someone then stops when the other person likes them back. People who “catch and release” are addicted to the thrill of the chase, but not the commitment. They might send flirty texts and make grand romantic gestures, but the relationship will end quickly as soon as things get serious.

   • “Don’t go out with him! He’s known to pull a catch and release.”
   • “He has a pattern of catch and release. I wouldn’t give him the time of day!”
   • “I think you tend to catch and release because you’re afraid of being vulnerable.”
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