early/late in the game

idiom

: at an early/late time in a game or sport
She scored a goal early in the game.
often used figuratively
It's too late in the game to change the date of the meeting.
She got into the computer industry early in the game.

Examples of early/late in the game in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bizarre mix of world football and American football was once again clashing early in the game. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 June 2025 Fever guard Sophie Cunningham also got into the fray with a hard foul on Sheldon late in the game. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025 Chicago defeated the Green Bay Packers in the season finale -- Jordan Love was injured early in the game -- and lost to them by only one point in their first meeting. Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 However, the offense stalled out in the fourth inning and added just a single run late in the game. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for early/late in the game

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Cite this Entry

“Early/late in the game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/early%2Flate%20in%20the%20game. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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