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Russian Roulette

What Does "Russian Roulette" Mean?

homeidiomsRussian Roulette
"Russian roulette" is an English idiom. It means "a dangerous and potentially deadly game in which a single round is loaded into a revolver's chamber, the cylinder is spun, and participants take turns pulling the trigger while aiming the gun at their own head."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "russian roulette" used in a sentence:
  • Playing Russian roulette is an extremely reckless and life-threatening act that should never be attempted.
  • The film depicted a tense scene in which two characters engaged in a game of Russian roulette as a test of nerves.
  • Authorities strongly discourage any participation in Russian roulette due to its deadly nature and potential for tragedy.
meaning for russian roulette

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Russian Roulette" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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