it's not cricket

it's not cricket

It isn't fair, sportsmanlike, or legitimate. I know you want to avoid confrontation, but it's not cricket to break up with someone by text message. I don't see why you think it's not cricket—everyone else does it all the time.
See also: cricket, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

It's not cricket.

 and It's not kosher.
It's not done.; It's not acceptable. You can't do that! It's not cricket!
See also: cricket, not
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

not cricket

Unfair, unsportsmanlike, as in It's not cricket to let him go without notice. This term, in which the sport of cricket is equated with upright behavior, survives in America despite the relative unfamiliarity of the sport there. [Mid-1800s]
See also: cricket, not
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

not cricket

contrary to traditional standards of fairness or rectitude. British informal
The game of cricket, with its traditional regard for courtesy and fair play, has been a metaphor for these qualities since at least the mid 19th century.
See also: cricket, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

it’s (just) not ˈcricket

(old-fashioned, British English, informal) it is not a fair or an honourable action or way of behaving
See also: cricket, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not cricket

mod. unfair; illegitimate; unorthodox. (See affirmative examples at cricket.) What do you mean it’s not cricket? You do it.
See also: cricket, not
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

not cricket, it's/that's

Unsportsmanlike, unfair, dishonorable. Eric Partridge traced this term to 1867 but believed it was not widely used until the early twentieth century. Among the early references in print is Stanley Houghton’s 1914 play, The Partners, “. . . but it is not playing the game. In other words, Cynthia, it is not cricket.” Although cricket is a sport popular exclusively in Great Britain and most of its former colonies, the term crossed the Atlantic and became a cliché in the United States as well.
See also: not
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • it's just not cricket
  • kosher
  • not cricket
  • not cricket, it's/that's
  • it's not kosher
  • May the best man/woman win.
  • break a lance
  • lance
  • converge
  • converge on
References in periodicals archive
"It's not cricket," we say, or used to say, whenever people subvert our notion of fair play.
Aussies have subverted our notion of fair play
While growing up and playing cricket, one came across the phrase, 'It's not cricket' which basically referred to unsportsmanlike behaviour either in sports or life in general and related to fairness in conduct or approach.
Howzat!
At 16, she signed for Rank and made her name in comedies like Here Come the Huggetts and It's Not Cricket. In 1949, she got her first leading roles in Diamond City and Dance Hall.
Showbiz Sam The man in the know
It's not cricket as we say in England and we want it to be a fair fight.
Bjork, Michelisz out to fight hard
MULTAN -- Veteran politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi has called upon Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to avoid irresponsible behaviour in politics, saying it's not cricket.
Hashmi urges Imran to shun irresponsible politics
Nope, it's not a frickin port, it's not some Bollywood starlet's latest "game", it's not cricket, it's not a rip-off and it's not a clone .
Asura: Review
It's not cricket's fault but our fault for not watching.
BHAIJAAN UNFURLS RIO DREAM
--2010 '"It's not cricket!": Victorian Aboriginal cricket at Coranderrk', The La Trobe Journal, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, no.
The Invincibles: New Norcia's Aboriginal cricketers 1879-1906
"I'm not sure what's the right term in Australian terminology, I guess it's not cricket to do these kinds of things," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters during a visit in Perth.
Edward Snowden NSA Scandal: US Spying Via Australian Embassies Triggers Outcry in Asia
Daniel Radcliffe appears on The Third Man and Neil Finn of Crowded House sings the final chorus on the album's closer, Nudging And Nurdling, while commentary royalty Henry Blofeld and David "Bumble" Lloyd make cameos on It's Not Cricket and Boom Boom Afridi, a tribute to Pakistan's aggressive batsman Shahid Afridi, respectively.
Pair who are used to pushing boundaries; With the Ashes in full swing, cricket fans The Duckworth Lewis Method have released their second album. Andy Welch reports
There could be no more wounding rejoinder to a man for whom 'It's not cricket' summed up all that was evil.
When Bodyline hit the Aussies
SHORTSTOP When you're born, perhaps with a talent One simply must not remain silent Go for it, and try your best Become qualified, then go west Don't think you control your life You'll never cut money, with a bread knife It matters not the course your world takes You'll be in the next one in two shakes No matter how hard you may strive No one ever escapes alive So in the whole scheme of things One needs power and a pair of wings You may want to say "Oh Stick it" Life can be sweet, but it's not cricket So you've missed it, whoops it's gone That's the time to move on Jock Brownlee Wood End, Coventry.
Poets' corner
The judge told the court: "'It's not cricket' was an adage.
Cricketers jailed over Test spot-fixing
IT'S NOT CRICKET Graham Onions IN THE CLUB Left, Alan Shearer and Jonathan Edwards at the Prince's Trust golf tournament at Slaley Hall; right, Rob Lee and John Beresford
Shearer and sports pals tee off for the Prince's Trust