cheat code

plural cheat codes · alternative cheatcode

1. video gamesA 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 code

   2023, “Practice”, in Water Made Us, performed by Jamila Woods ft. Saba

2. figurativelyA way to accomplish something that bypasses some of the usual hard work; shortcut, lifehack, or advantage.

   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

   3 more examples

   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

   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