English · Slang Attested

two-handed game

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A game or proposal in which the chances are fairly even; a situation where one will get as good as one gives.

Examples

"Mr. Pillow, Sir, none of your impertinence, or I will chastise you as well as this fellow." "That's a two handed game, by thunder," said Long Tom, "[…] I dare you to deadly combat. […]"

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

a game or proposal in which the chances are fairly even; as, "I’ll punch your head;" "Ah, that’s a TWO-HANDED GAME—you’ll get no good at that."

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “two-handed game” mean?

A game or proposal in which the chances are fairly even; a situation where one will get as good as one gives.

Is “two-handed game” formal or informal?

two-handed game is generally archaic, slang.