play-debt
Definition
- Noun:
- A gambling debt: "play-debt" refers to a sum of money owed as a result of losing a wager or bet in a game of chance, such as cards, dice, or other gambling activities.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He was unable to pay his play-debt after losing at the poker table. (A debt incurred from gambling.)
- The gambler accumulated a large play-debt that ruined his finances. (A debt from betting activities.)
Advanced Usage
"to settle a play-debt": to pay off a gambling debt.
- She used her inheritance to settle her late husband's play-debt. (She paid the money owed from gambling.)
"play-debt collector": a person who demands payment of a gambling debt, often aggressively.
- The play-debt collector threatened him if he did not pay by Friday. (A person seeking payment for a gambling loss.)
Variants and Related Words
Play (n): recreational activity; a dramatic work.
- The children's play was interrupted by rain. (Recreational activity.)
Debt (n): something owed, usually money.
- He was in debt after buying a car. (Money owed.)
Synonyms
- Gambling debt: a debt from wagering.
- Betting debt: a debt from placing bets.
Related Idioms
- To be in play-debt up to one's ears: to owe a very large amount from gambling.
- After the casino trip, he was in play-debt up to his ears. (He owed a huge gambling debt.)