game over
The end, player
Game over signals the end of a video game, appearing on screen when a player has exhausted all lives or failed completely.
The phrase has spread beyond gaming to mark any decisive ending or failure: It's game over for his political career.
Unlike a temporary setback, game over implies finality—no more chances remain.
Reappear after dying digitally
- extra lifeAdditional player attempt
- continueGo on without stopping
- restartCommence anew
- save pointStored game progress location
high score · leaderboard · arcade · insert coin · retry · power-up · final boss · death screen
Being without something
- defeatVictory over another
- failedDid not succeed
- blown itRuined your opportunity
- too latePast the cutoff
wasted · squandered · botched · ruined · doomed · sunk · toast · cooked
Inescapable capture position
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- vanquishedDefeated completely
- trouncedDefeated decisively
routed · crushed · annihilated · whitewash · upset · outplayed · overpowered · bested
Final portion of something
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- finishBring to completion
- doneNo longer in progress
- finishedBrought to an end
kaput · curtains · the end · finis · that's all folks · final score · fade to black · last breath
Point beyond which nothing continues
- last strawUltimate triggering incident
- death knellOmen of ending
- swan songFinal work or performance
- writing on the wallObvious omen of trouble
ship has sailed · bridge burned · door closed · fat lady sings · called it quits · threw in the towel · white flag · crying uncle
respawn
Reappear after dying digitally
- extra lifeAdditional player attempt
- continueGo on without stopping
- restartCommence anew
save point · high score · leaderboard · arcade · insert coin · retry · power-up · final boss · death screen · rage quit
loss
Being without something
too late · wasted · squandered · botched · ruined · doomed · sunk · toast · cooked · finished
checkmate
Inescapable capture position
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- vanquishedDefeated completely
trounced · routed · crushed · annihilated · whitewash · upset · outplayed · overpowered · bested · dethroned
ending
Final portion of something
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- finishBring to completion
- doneNo longer in progress
finished · kaput · curtains · the end · finis · that's all folks · final score · fade to black · last breath · flatline
end of the road
Point beyond which nothing continues
- last strawUltimate triggering incident
- death knellOmen of ending
- swan songFinal work or performance
writing on the wall · ship has sailed · bridge burned · door closed · fat lady sings · called it quits · threw in the towel · white flag · crying uncle · tapped out
- gameplaypower-up, level cap, save point, tutorial level, high score
- arcade gamesclaw machine, Asteroids, Galaga, Defender, coin-op
- arcade gaminginsert coin, high score, joystick, credits, quarter
- Braggingbrag, gloat, show off, flex, swagger
- Game Outcomessolved, unsolved, win, loss, completion
- game overthe end, you died, defeat, wasted, death screen
game overyou win
Admission of defeat
victory · high score · winner · champion · success
game overalive and kicking
Healthy and active
second chance · new lease on life · wide open · hope springs eternal · fighting chance