Russian roulette
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From roulette, a game of chance involving a revolving wheel. The first description is apparently in "The Fatalist," an 1840 short story by Russian writer Mikhail Lermontov.
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Proper noun[edit]
Russian roulette (uncountable)
- (idiomatic, games) A deadly game in which a person loads a single bullet in the cylinder of a revolver, spins the cylinder so that the bullet's location is unknown, points the muzzle at his/her head, and pulls the trigger. In its most lethal form, played by multiple participants each of whom takes a turn until the weapon discharges.
- (figurative) Any activity, especially a needless one, that carries a high risk of death or disaster.
Translations[edit]
deadly game with revolver and random spinning
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