parlay

American  

[pahr-ley, -lee] / ˈpɑr leɪ, -li /

verb (used with object)

1. to bet or gamble (an original amount and its winnings) on a subsequent race, contest, etc.

2. Informal. to use (one's money, talent, or other assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success.

   He parlayed a modest inheritance into a fortune.

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noun

1. a bet of an original sum and the subsequent winnings.

parlay British  

/ ˈpɑːlɪ /

verb

1. Brit equivalent: double up.  to stake (winnings from one bet) on a subsequent wager

2. to exploit (one's talent) to achieve worldly success

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noun

1. a bet in which winnings from one wager are staked on another, or a series of such bets

Usage

What does parlay mean? In gambling, to parlay a bet means to “let it ride”—to wager the original amount and any winnings on a subsequent bet. Parlay can also be used as a noun to refer to such a bet.Sometimes it means something more specific, especially in the context of sports betting: a single wager that depends on the outcome of multiple events, most commonly sports games.Parlay can also be used in a general way meaning to use a resource, such as money or talent, to achieve an outcome, such as wealth or success.Example: I always end up trying to parlay my winnings and then losing everything.

Etymology

Origin of parlay

An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30; alteration of earlier paroli, from French, from Neapolitan Italian, plural of parolo, perhaps derivative of paro “equal,” from Latin pār; pair ¹

Example Sentences

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his part has managed to parlay diplomatic criticism into something palatable for both sides: military cooperation.

From Barron's

Rocco Commisso didn’t speak English when he arrived in the U.S., but he did play the accordion, a skill that he parlayed into an education.

From The Wall Street Journal

Comedian Daniel Tosh even parlayed a desire to gawk at the web’s inept and unaware into a vicious update of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” that aired on Comedy Central for years.

From Salon

To investigators in the U.K., what’s glaring instead is that his ingratiating friends leaked privileged financial information to the former banker that he might have parlayed into insider-trading gains.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now he wonders if he should parlay the experience into a side gig: “I’m taking a look at hosting my own reverse-recruiting service,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal