a fair shake
noun
informal
: a fair deal : fair treatment
The judge gave him a fair shake, requiring him to perform community service.
She expected to get a fair shake from her boss.
Examples of a fair shake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While Metroid might not be as popular as Nintendo's typically family-friendly IPs, lovers of space games ought to give this enduring series a fair shake; Its cool level design, old-fashioned thrills, and unique atmosphere make the Metroid universe an underrated Nintendo franchise.
—
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 May 2025
That opportunity wasn’t really a fair shake because that team had no resources.
—Joseph Wolkin, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Lyra Valkyria has never gotten a chance to shine as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion while Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green, despite consistently great performances, hasn’t really gotten a fair shake, either.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Adrian Griffin The former Milwaukee Bucks coach never got a fair shake, but his next chance could be coming.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Debates had to be divided into two nights, to give everyone a fair shake.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
Granted, the team went 4-13, and his decisions and quotes garnered some criticism, but many have been on the attack against the Pats, saying that with his roster, he had not been given a fair shake.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025
But no matter his impressive lap times, the majority of executives refuse to give Senna a fair shake.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024
She champions ideals my father stood for: improving education, building good jobs, supporting labor unions and making sure everyone gets a fair shake.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2024
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Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 May 2025
That opportunity wasn’t really a fair shake because that team had no resources.
—Joseph Wolkin, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Lyra Valkyria has never gotten a chance to shine as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion while Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green, despite consistently great performances, hasn’t really gotten a fair shake, either.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Adrian Griffin The former Milwaukee Bucks coach never got a fair shake, but his next chance could be coming.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Debates had to be divided into two nights, to give everyone a fair shake.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
Granted, the team went 4-13, and his decisions and quotes garnered some criticism, but many have been on the attack against the Pats, saying that with his roster, he had not been given a fair shake.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025
But no matter his impressive lap times, the majority of executives refuse to give Senna a fair shake.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024
She champions ideals my father stood for: improving education, building good jobs, supporting labor unions and making sure everyone gets a fair shake.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“A fair shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20fair%20shake. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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