Definition

1. Verb:
   • To place a wager on the outcome of an event: To risk money on the success or result of a future event, such as a sports game or race.
   • To rely on or have confidence in a particular outcome: To base one's expectations or plans on something happening.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • I decided to bet on the home team to win the championship.
  • She bet on the black horse in the third race.
  • You shouldn't bet on the weather being nice for the picnic.
  • He's betting on getting a promotion by the end of the year.

Advanced Usage

• "to bet on the wrong horse": To support a person, idea, or course of action that ultimately fails.

  • Investing all his money in that failing company was like betting on the wrong horse.

• "to bet on a sure thing": To wager on an outcome that is considered certain or very likely.

  • It seems like a safe investment; you're practically betting on a sure thing.

Variants and Related Words

• Back (verb): To support financially, often used synonymously with 'bet on' in the context of gambling.

  • He backed the underdog with a small wager.

• Wager (verb): A more formal synonym for 'bet'.

  • He wagered fifty dollars on the game's outcome.

Synonyms

• Gamble on: To take a risky action in the hope of a desired result.
• Stake on: To risk money or something valuable on an event.
• Count on: To rely on something happening (for the 'rely on' meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bet against: To place a wager that a particular outcome will NOT happen.
  • Few people were willing to bet against the reigning champion.

Related Idioms

• Don't bet on it: An expression used to say that something is very unlikely to happen.

  • "Do you think it will stop raining soon?" – "Don't bet on it."

• Hedge your bets: To reduce your risk by supporting more than one possible outcome.

  • She applied to several universities to hedge her bets.

Verb

1. place a bet on
   • Which horse are you backing?
   • I'm betting on the new horse