russian roulette

2 definitions found

russian roulette - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Russian roulette \Rus"sian roulette\
     (a) An act of bravado played by loading one bullet into one
         chamber of a revolver in which the cylinder has five or
         six positions, spinning the cylinder (thus moving the
         bullet randomly to one of the six positions of the
         cylinder), pointing the gun to one's head, and pulling
         the trigger. If the bullet is in firing position, the
         "player" is usually killed. Such a "game" may be played
         on a dare, or, in some places, as part of a gamble.
     (b) (Fig.) Any dangerous act resembling Russian roulette in
         the acceptance of a high risk of serious negative
         consequences, usually unnecessarily. "The congress is
         playing Russian roulette with the economy by enacting
         such large tax reductions without spending cuts."
         [PJC]

russian roulette - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Russian roulette
      n 1: a stunt in which you spin the cylinder of a revolver that
           is loaded with only one bullet and then point the muzzle at
           your head and pull the trigger