fast and loose
adverb
1
: in a reckless or irresponsible manner
played fast and loose with the public purse strings—
Paul Stuewe
Paul Stuewe2
: in a craftily deceitful way
manipulated evidence … and played fast and loose with the truth—C. V. Woodward
C. V. WoodwardExamples of fast and loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The games have always been fast and loose with physics, and the omnimovement system only exasperated it by giving everyone the Matrix-style power to shoot backward while careening down a flight of stairs.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Four years and nine months prior, a relative of the Gonzales family in Houston was watching over their two dogs as the family went out of town for a wedding, and Randy managed to play it a little too fast and loose with the rules and escaped the house, KHOU said.
—Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
House of Guinness has played pretty fast and loose with the facts throughout these eight episodes.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The income documentation requirements are very fast and loose, nothing like Fannie Mae mortgages.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fast and loose
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Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Four years and nine months prior, a relative of the Gonzales family in Houston was watching over their two dogs as the family went out of town for a wedding, and Randy managed to play it a little too fast and loose with the rules and escaped the house, KHOU said.
—Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
House of Guinness has played pretty fast and loose with the facts throughout these eight episodes.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The income documentation requirements are very fast and loose, nothing like Fannie Mae mortgages.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fast and loose
Cite this Entry
“Fast and loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20and%20loose. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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