From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe name of the gamethe name of the gameinformalIMPORTANT the most important thing in a particular activity or situation Quality, that’s the name of the game. → name
Examples from the Corpus
the name of the game• Selection is inevitable and flexibility is the name of the game.• Popularity is the name of the game in television.• Popularity is the name of the game in television.• No-one ever really suggested it and we never knew the name of the game.• But inequality is still the name of the game for many.• When the cause is known the effects are clearly understood: metaphysics was the name of the game.• Survival was the name of the game, as it has been throughout history. 