fast and loose

adverb

1
: in a reckless or irresponsible manner
played fast and loose with the public purse stringsPaul Stuewe
2
: in a craftily deceitful way
manipulated evidence … and played fast and loose with the truthC. V. Woodward

Examples of fast and loose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Will The Rock be fast and loose with his language on live TV? Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024 There will be some nights where the power play carries the Red Wings, but getting fast and loose isn’t really an option for this group, as seen by 6-4 and 5-4 losses to Anaheim and San Jose last week. Max Bultman, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024 Lucifer plays extremely fast and loose with its Vertigo source material — the show merely adopts its premise of the Devil abandoning his job to run a nightclub and then runs off in its own direction. Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Both American Airlines' example of managing early boarders and Dunedin's request to keep the drop-off zone at its airport fast and loose come down to the etiquette of flying. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fast and loose 

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fast and loose was in 1557

Dictionary Entries Near 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 26 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!