bet

verb

/bet/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they bet	/bet/ /bet/
he / she / it bets	/bets/ /bets/
past simple bet	/bet/ /bet/
past participle bet	/bet/ /bet/
-ing form betting	/ˈbetɪŋ/ /ˈbetɪŋ/

Idioms

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[intransitive, transitive] to risk money on a race or an event by trying to predict the result
- You have to be over 16 to bet.
- bet on/against somebody/something doing something I wouldn't bet on them winning the next election.
- Not many people are betting against France retaining their title.
- bet on/against something He likes betting on horses and watching table tennis.
- bet something on something He bet $2 000 on the final score of the game.
- bet something You shouldn't praise a gambler for betting his life savings if he wins.
- bet somebody something (that) She bet me £20 (that) I wouldn't do it.
- bet somebody (that) I bet her (that) the Democrats would not win.
- bet something (that) He bet ten dollars (that) he could write a complete story in just six words.
see also betting, gamble
Wordfinder
- bet
- casino
- chip
- croupier
- gambling
- lottery
- odds
- roulette
- stake
- streak
Topics Moneyb2
[transitive] (informal) used to say that you are almost certain that something is true or that something will happen
- bet (that)… I bet (that) we’re too late.
- You can bet (that) the moment I sit down, the phone will ring.
- I'm willing to bet (that) the analysts will be wrong.
- bet somebody (that)… I’ll bet you (that) he knows all about it.
More Like This Verbs with two objects
Verbs with two objects
- bet
- bring
- build
- buy
- cost
- get
- give
- leave
- lend
- make
- offer
- owe
- pass
- pay
- play
- post
- promise
- read
- refuse
- sell
- send
- show
- sing
- take
- teach
- tell
- throw
- wish
- write
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2, Opinion and argumentb2

Word Originlate 16th cent.: perhaps a shortening of the obsolete noun abet ‘abetment’.

Idioms

bet the farm/ranch on something

(North American English, informal) to risk everything you have on an investment, a bet, etc.
- The company bet the farm on the new marketing model, only to find that it wasn’t successful.

I/I’ll bet! (informal)

used to show that you can understand what somebody is feeling, describing, etc.
- ‘I nearly died when he told me.’ ‘I bet!’
used to tell somebody that you do not believe what they have just said
- ‘I'm going to tell her what I think of her.’ ‘Yeah, I bet!’

I wouldn’t bet on it | don’t bet on it

(informal) used to say that you do not think that something is very likely
- ‘She'll soon get used to the idea.’ ‘I wouldn't bet on it.’

you bet!

(informal) used instead of ‘yes’ to emphasize that somebody has guessed something correctly or made a good suggestion
- ‘Are you nervous?’ ‘You bet!’
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2

you can bet your life/your bottom dollar (on something/(that)…)

(informal) used to say that you are certain that something will happen
- You can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be late.
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2

bet

noun

/bet/

Idioms

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an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event; the money that you risk in this way
- to win/lose a bet
- I was tempted to place a large bet.
- bet on something We've got a bet on who's going to arrive first.
- He had a bet on the horses.
- They all put a bet on the race.
- I hear you're taking bets on whether she'll marry him.
- I did it for a bet (= because somebody had agreed to pay me money if I did).
- ‘Liverpool are bound to win.’ ‘Do you want a bet?’ (= I disagree with you, I don't think they will.)
Extra Examples
- I made a bet with a friend.
- I wish I hadn't agreed to that stupid bet.
- We are now taking bets on the election result.
Topics Moneyb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- good
- safe
- sure
- …
verb + bet
- have
- make
- place
- …
preposition
- bet on
- bet with
phrases
- do something for a bet
- it is my bet (that)…
- my bet is (that)…
- …
See full entry
(informal) an opinion about what is likely to happen or to have happened
- My bet is that they've been held up in traffic.
Topics Opinion and argumentb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- good
- safe
- sure
- …
verb + bet
- have
- make
- place
- …
preposition
- bet on
- bet with
phrases
- do something for a bet
- it is my bet (that)…
- my bet is (that)…
- …
See full entry

Word Originlate 16th cent.: perhaps a shortening of the obsolete noun abet ‘abetment’.

Idioms

all bets are off

used to say that if a particular event happens then your current prediction, agreement, etc. will no longer apply
- We expect shares to rise unless the economy slows down again, in which case all bets are off.

the/your best bet

(informal) used to tell somebody what is the best action for them to take to get the result they want
- If you want to get around London fast, the Underground is your best bet.

a good/safe/sure bet

something that is likely to happen, to succeed or to be suitable
- He's a good bet to earn a spot on the US team.
- Clothes are a safe bet as a present for a teenager.
- The movie looks like a sure bet for Best Film.
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2

hedge your bets

to reduce the risk of losing or making a mistake by supporting more than one side in a competition, an argument, etc., or by having several choices available to you
- She hedged her bets by applying for various other jobs as well.
Topics Preferences and decisionsc2, Opinion and argumentc2