|
Reader question: Please explain “fair shake” in the following: The candidates get a fair shake during the debates. They take turns being asked questions and have the same amount of time to answer and to make a final statement at the end. My comments: “Fair shake” suggests, as you can probably infer from the above example, fairness. In the example, candidates each were given the same amount of time to answer questions and a chance to make a final statement. In short, an equal opportunity or treatment for each and all. “Fair shake” is a term borrowed from perhaps gambling. “Shake” refers to the action of dice roller, the person who rolls the die or dice. Before he casts them onto the table, he puts the dice into a cup and rattles or shakes the cup violently. That’s what a “fair shake” is originally. It simply means the roller is not cheating and is being fair – by making sure that the dice in the cup get a good mix. Alright, before we move onto examples, here is a chant from yours truly: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Now, recent media examples of fair shake, a fairly commonplace phrase used in all walks of life, i.e. not just limited to the casino: 1. Bears for Life, an anti-abortion organization, is holding a screening of “Maafa 21” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Morrison Hall 100. The documentary, which was released on June 15, 2009, discusses the effects of abortion on the African-American community. | 
