Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having the strong flavor or smell of game meat: Describes meat, especially game animals, that has a distinctive, often strong, wild, or slightly tangy taste and aroma.
   • Suggestive of sexual impropriety; risqué: Describes something, especially a story or remark, that is slightly indecent, suggestive, or sexually provocative.
   • Brave and spirited; willing to face danger: Describes a person or animal that is plucky, spirited, and ready for action or challenge. (This sense is less common in modern usage.)

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Flavor/Smell):
  • The venison had a rich, gamey flavor that some people love.
  • The older pheasant was a bit too gamey for her taste.
• Adjective (Suggestive):
  • He told a gamey anecdote that made everyone laugh nervously.
  • The novel is known for its gamey humor and bold characters.
• Adjective (Spirited):
  • Despite the injury, the gamey little terrier kept chasing the ball.
  • The old pilot was still gamey enough for one last adventure.

Advanced Usage

• "to smell/taste gamey": used specifically to describe the sensory quality of meat.
  • This duck smells a bit gamey; it might have been hung for a while.
• "gamey details": refers to the salacious or provocative parts of a story.
  • The biography didn't shy away from the gamey details of the star's private life.

Variants and Related Words

• Game (n): wild animals hunted for sport or food; an activity for amusement.
  • We ate game like rabbit and pigeon.
• Gaminess (n): the quality of being gamey.
  • The gaminess of the meat is an acquired taste.

Synonyms

• For flavor/smell: strong-flavored, pungent, tangy, high.
• For suggestive: risqué, racy, spicy, bawdy, ribald, naughty, blue.
• For spirited: plucky, spirited, gritty, courageous, daring.

Antonyms

• For flavor/smell: mild, bland, delicate.
• For suggestive: decent, proper, chaste, innocent.
• For spirited: cowardly, timid, faint-hearted.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "past its prime/gamey": can imply something (like meat or an idea) is old and has developed a strong, possibly unpleasant character.
  • That argument is a bit gamey; we need a fresh perspective.
• "gamey old bird": a colloquial and somewhat affectionate term for an older person who is still lively, spirited, or cheeky.
  • My grandfather is a real gamey old bird, always telling jokes.

Adjective

1. willing to face danger
2. (used of the smell of meat) smelling spoiled or tainted
3. suggestive of sexual impropriety
   • a blue movie
   • blue jokes
   • he skips asterisks and gives you the gamy details
   • a juicy scandal
   • a naughty wink
   • naughty words
   • racy anecdotes
   • a risque story
   • spicy gossip