red rover: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Nostalgic
Quick answer
What does “red rover” mean?
A children's game where two teams line up facing each other, and players from one team try to break through the linked arms of the opposing team by running at them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A children's game where two teams line up facing each other, and players from one team try to break through the linked arms of the opposing team by running at them.
By extension, the phrase can refer to a call or challenge (as in the game's chant "Red Rover, Red Rover, send [name] right over"), or metaphorically to any test of strength or attempt to breach a barrier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The game is far more widely known and played in North America. In the UK, it is recognized but less common, often considered an American import.
Connotations
In the US/Canada: Strong childhood nostalgia, schoolyard activity. In the UK: Often seen as a foreign or novel game.
Frequency
High frequency in North American cultural memory; low frequency in actual contemporary use. Very low frequency in UK everyday language.
Grammar
How to Use “red rover” in a Sentence
Let's play [Red Rover].We shouted '[Red Rover], [Red Rover], send [Name] right over!'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red rover” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The kids decided to red rover during break time.
- We're going to red rover them!
American English
- We red-rovered all afternoon.
- They want to red rover before going inside.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potential metaphorical use: 'The new startup tried to play Red Rover with the market leaders.'
Academic
Only in anthropological, sociological, or historical studies of childhood and play.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in reminiscing about childhood or organizing children's games.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red rover”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red rover”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red rover”
- Capitalizing incorrectly (it is a proper name for the game: Red Rover).
- Using it as a general term for any children's game.
- Confusing it with 'Red Robin' (a restaurant/bird).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The game has been banned in some schools due to risks of injury from the high-impact collisions, leading to its decline in organised settings.
The etymology is uncertain. It may relate to the 19th-century song/poem 'Red Rover' about a pirate ship, suggesting a 'breaking through' theme, but this is not confirmed.
No, it requires two teams with multiple players each to form the chains that the runner attempts to break.
Yes, the chant "Red Rover, Red Rover, send [Name] right over!" is a culturally fixed phrase used to issue a playful challenge, sometimes outside the context of the actual game.
A children's game where two teams line up facing each other, and players from one team try to break through the linked arms of the opposing team by running at them.
Red rover is usually informal, nostalgic in register.
Red rover: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred ˈrəʊvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd ˈroʊvər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like a game of Red Rover: Describes a situation where one side is trying to break through a strong opposing line.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RED team trying to ROVE (roam) over to the other side by breaking through a human chain.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BOND IS A CHAIN; CHALLENGE IS A PHYSICAL BREACH.
Practice
Quiz
In the game 'Red Rover', what is the primary action of the caller?