bet
1to wager with (something or someone).
to make a wager: Do you want to bet?
a pledge of a forfeit risked on some uncertain outcome; wager: Where do we place our bets?
that which is pledged: a two-dollar bet.
something that is bet on, as a competitor in a sporting event or a number in a lottery: That horse looks like a good bet.
an act or instance of betting: It's a bet, then?
a person, plan of action, etc., considered as being a good alternative; choice: Your best bet is to sell your stocks now.
Idioms about bet
all bets are off. See entry at all bets are off.
you bet!Informal. of course! surely!: You bet I'd like to be there!
Origin of bet
1Other words for bet
Other definitions for bet (2 of 4)
beth.
Other definitions for BET (3 of 4)
Black Entertainment Television: a cable television channel.
Other definitions for bet. (4 of 4)
between.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use bet in a sentence
In fact, in recent months, financial investors have made tons of money by betting against Putin.
The smart money is betting that the baby could be born around April 1.
You can never go wrong betting on the kids being smarter than everybody gives them credit for.
‘Phineas and Ferb’ Pilot Disney’s Premier Voyage into ‘Star Wars’ | Jason Lynch | July 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBig British bookmaker Coral has suspended betting on Kate announcing she is pregnant again before the end of this month.
But now we know how much they made betting against their customers—and got away with it.
Too Big to Jail: Confessions of a Goldman Sachs Brat | Michael Daly | June 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
No miser ever had a more cheerful and happy hour than I had as I read the betting-book at Thwaites'.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete | Gilbert ParkerHe also attends to all the large races, but he does little betting, because the Queen is opposed to gambling.
Ways of War and Peace | Delia AustrianNot so: Dawkins won always, Mr. B. betting on his play, and giving him the very best of advice.
Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush | William Makepeace ThackerayMen were betting whether the Unionists would lose more or less than two hundred seats.
The New Machiavelli | Herbert George WellsI suspect some Army money went on him, quietly, although little betting was now done in our presence.
The Way of a Man | Emerson Hough
British Dictionary definitions for bet
/ (bɛt) /
an agreement between two parties that a sum of money or other stake will be paid by the loser to the party who correctly predicts the outcome of an event
the money or stake risked
the predicted result in such an agreement: his bet was that the horse would win
a person, event, etc, considered as likely to succeed or occur: it's a good bet that they will succeed
a course of action (esp in the phrase one's best bet)
informal an opinion; view: my bet is that you've been up to no good
(when intr foll by on or against) to make or place a bet with (a person or persons)
(tr) to stake (money, etc) in a bet
(tr; may take a clause as object) informal to predict (a certain outcome): I bet she fails
you bet informal of course; naturally
Origin of bet
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with bet
In addition to the idioms beginning with bet
- bet one's ass
- bet on the wrong horse
also see:
- back (bet on) the wrong horse
- hedge one's bets
- you bet your ass
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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