game over

Meaning

Originally from arcade and video games, 'game over' signifies that a play session has ended, usually due to losing. Metaphorically, it is used in casual speech to describe a situation that is completely finished, ruined, or beyond saving.

Examples

• Once the boss finds out about this mistake, it's game over for us.

  Once the boss finds out about this mistake, it's game over for us.

• He dropped his phone in the ocean, and it was game over for the device.

  He dropped his phone in the ocean, and it was game over for the device.

• The screen suddenly flashed 'game over' after I lost my last life.

  The screen suddenly flashed 'game over' after I lost my last life.

• If we don't score a goal in the next two minutes, it's game over.

  If we don't score a goal in the next two minutes, it's game over.

• She forgot her passport at home, so it was game over for her vacation plans.

  She forgot her passport at home, so it was game over for her vacation plans.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We are game over.

  ✓ It is game over for us.

  'Game over' is typically used as a noun phrase with 'it is' rather than describing people directly as 'being game over'.

• ✗ The meeting was game over.

  ✓ The meeting was over.

  'Game over' usually implies a dramatic loss, failure, or finality, not just a normal conclusion to an event like a standard meeting.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If the police catch him with the stolen goods, it's ___.

  💡 completely finished or ruined

  Show answer

  game over

• I saw the ___ screen and realized I had to restart the level.

  💡 the gaming message indicating loss

  Show answer

  game over