the game was already on

[Sun14]

Hello, my friends,

I was wondering whether the underlined part is idiomatic:

"The game was already on."

Thoughts: I told my friend that when I get to the filed, Allen had already play the football match with others.

 

[e2efour]

From your "thoughts" (had already played?) I gather that The game was already over.

Do you really mean this?

 

[Sun14]

From your "thoughts" (had already played?) I gather that The game was already over.

Do you really mean this?

By the time I got there they were playing it.

 

[e2efour]

In that case The game was already on is possible.
I would not use on myself, but rather The game was (already) under way.

But that might just be my personal preference.

 

[Sun14]

In that case The game was already on is possible.
I would not use on myself, but rather The game was (already) under way.

But that might just be my personal preference.

Got it. Thank you very much.

 

[e2efour]

The expression Something is on/off often means that a decision has been taken to hold an event (or not).
So we say The meeting is on (=will take place) or off (has been cancelled).
That is why I would avoid using on in your context.

 

[Edinburgher]

Another option is "the game had already started/begun."

 

[Sun14]

The expression Something is on/off often means that a decision has been taken to hold an event (or not).
So we say The meeting is on (=will take place) or off (has been cancelled).
That is why I would avoid using on in your context.

Got it. Thank you very much.

 

[Sun14]

Another option is "the game had already started/begun."

Got it. Thank you very much.