cheat code
noun1
Video games A line of text or series of commands which can be used to change a game's behavior, alter a character's looks and abilities, skip levels, or access other hidden features.
- Got more patience than a tree grow / Got love that feels like a cheat code2023, “Practice”, in Water Made Us, performed by Jamila Woods ft. Saba:
2
Figuratively A way to accomplish something that bypasses some of the usual hard work; shortcut, lifehack, or advantage.
- Once you discover all the ins and outs of your mind, you basically have the cheat code to your game of life.2017, Lilly Singh, How to Be a Bawse, A Guide to Conquering Life:
- How did the other folks make it? It’s not necessarily because they’re smarter. It’s not automatically that they know more than I do. It’s not because they’re more clever. It’s that they found the cheat codes or knew somebody who knew somebody.2021, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, “Trust Where You Are”, in The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons from a Professional Troublemaker, London: Quercus Editions Ltd, →ISBN:
2 more examples
- This gem of a book is a gathering of life’s cheat codes, put together with girls in mind.2021, Suzie Lavington, Andy Cope, A Girl’s Guide to Being Fearless: How to Find Your Brave, Chichester, West Sussex: Capstone, Wiley, →ISBN, back cover:
- Global agreements also focus on technology sharing—think of it as countries passing around the best cheat codes for fighting climate change.2024, Alisha Chandran, “Global Agreements – A Game of Diplomacy”, in Beyond the Forecast: The Science, Impact, and Opportunity of Our Climate Crisis, [Bradford, West Yorkshire]: Ethics International Press Ltd, →ISBN, page 73:
- Related terms
- cheap trick, one weird trick