spirit of the game
Fair play's soul
Spirit of the game refers to the unwritten principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and respect that govern conduct beyond the formal rules.
Someone acting within the rules but gaining an unfair advantage might be said to violate the spirit of the game: Technically legal, but it goes against the spirit of the game.
The phrase extends beyond sports to any activity where participants are expected to honor implicit norms of good faith.
- sportsmanshipEthical athletic conduct
- fair playHonorable conduct in games
- good sportPerson accepting outcomes cheerfully
- play by the rulesFollow accepted procedures
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
honor · unwritten rules · level playing field · respect · gentleman · etiquette · shake hands · camaraderie · grace · competition · handshake · honesty · teamwork · decency · conduct · moral compass · valor · chivalry
- disc sportsdisc golf, flying disc, forehand, backhand, putter
- sports ethicsfair play, sportsmanship, integrity, doping, honesty
spirit of the gamegamesmanship
Winning without cheating outright
bad faith · unsportsmanlike conduct · cheating · dirty play · sharp practice
spirit of the gamewin at all costs
scorched earth tactics · cutthroat mentality · hollow victory
spirit of the gameletter of the law
Exact statutory language
malicious compliance · rules lawyering · gaming the system · technicalities
spirit, spirits, spirited, spiritual, spiritually, spirituality, dispirit, dispirited, game