early/late in the game

idiom

: at an early/late time in a game or sport

She scored a goal early in the game.

—often used figuratively

It's too late in the game to change the date of the meeting.

She got into the computer industry early in the game.

Examples of early/late in the game in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to get the Bengals within one point, was among those who voiced support for Taylor's aggressive approach late in the game. —Chantz Martin, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024

Buchloh’s effort to course-correct his career-long intellectual investments thus also serves as a kind of corrective to the book, both coming late in the game. —Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024

Most of it came on drives late in the first half and late in the game. —Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 31 Oct. 2024

At that stage, an ejection late in the game comes with less damage than a Yankees lineup that has all the energy of a 15-watt light bulb. —Maury Brown, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024