one-armed bandit
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A type of slot machine used for gambling, traditionally operated by pulling a lever on its side. The name humorously refers to the machine's single lever (resembling an arm) and its tendency to take players' money (acting like a bandit or thief).
Usage
This term is used specifically to refer to a gambling machine where players insert money and pull a lever or push a button to spin reels, hoping for a winning combination of symbols. It is a colorful, informal synonym for "slot machine."
Examples
- The casino floor was filled with the sounds of one-armed bandits.
- He lost twenty dollars in ten minutes on the one-armed bandit in the corner.
- Modern video slots have mostly replaced the classic one-armed bandit.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in a historical or nostalgic context to refer to older mechanical slot machines with a physical lever, distinguishing them from modern electronic video slots.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe any device or system that consistently takes money from people with little return.
Variants and Related Words
- Slot machine (n): The more common and neutral term for the same device.
- Fruit machine (n): A common British term for a slot machine, often featuring fruit symbols.
- Poker machine / Pokie (n): Terms used primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
Synonyms
- Slot machine
- Gaming machine (formal)
Related Idioms
- To feed the one-armed bandit: To repeatedly put money into a slot machine.
- He spent the afternoon feeding the one-armed bandit at the local bar.
Noun
- a slot machine that is used for gambling
- they spend hours and hours just playing the slots