prisoner's base
Noun: A traditional children's team game of chase and capture. Two teams each have a designated "base." The objective is to tag and capture opposing players on their territory and bring them to your team's base, where they become "prisoners" until freed by a teammate.
The term "prisoner's base" is used to name this specific game. It is typically used in the context of describing children's outdoor activities or traditional games. * The children spent the afternoon playing prisoner's base in the field. * Do you remember the rules for prisoner's base?
The game is often associated with informal, unstructured play and can be used metaphorically to describe situations involving capture, confinement, or tactical pursuit. * The political negotiation felt like a high-stakes game of prisoner's base, with each side trying to capture concessions from the other.
- Base: (Noun) The safe area or goal in various games, including prisoner's base.
- Tag: (Noun/Verb) A simpler chasing game involving touching another player, which is a core mechanic within prisoner's base.
- Capture the Flag: (Noun) A modern, structured team game with similar concepts of territory, capture, and a base, often considered an evolved version of prisoner's base.
- Children's chasing game
- Team tag game
- Capture game
While not a phrasal verb, the structure of the game name gives rise to the common phrase: * To be sent to (the) base: Meaning to be captured or put out of action within the context of the game. * I was tagged almost immediately and sent to base for the rest of the round.
- a children's game; two teams capture opposing players by tagging them and taking them to their own base