Hunger Games
Definition
A dystopian young adult novel trilogy by Suzanne Collins, published starting in 2008, depicting a post-apocalyptic society where children fight to the death in a televised event.
A multimedia franchise based on the novels, including blockbuster films directed by Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence, starring Jennifer Lawrence as protagonist Katniss Everdeen.
Colloquially, any hyper-competitive or survival-of-the-fittest scenario, evoking the story's brutal arena battles.
Examples
The group project deadline turned our study group into the Hunger Games, complete with alliances and betrayals.
Black Friday shopping at the electronics store felt like the Hunger Games, minus the cool archery skills.
My fridge raid at midnight is basically the Hunger Games—last yogurt survives.
Corporate ladder-climbing is the corporate Hunger Games, where sponsors are just your LinkedIn connections.