to bet the ranch
1
8.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
apostar todo
- They wanted to live well, but they didn't want to bet the ranch on anything.
Examples
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Before investing in the startup, she was careful not to bet the ranch without doing thorough research.
-
What's going to happen to the millions of people who, you know, bet the ranch on a fraud?
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Just don't bet the ranch on the chance your horse will come in second.
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He decided to bet the ranch on the new business venture, believing it was his best chance for success.
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When he placed all his savings on that last game, it was clear he was ready to bet the ranch.
Synonyms
91
3.3
To do something risky hoping for a good result
36
3.8
Do something risky hoping to do well
7
6.4
To risk everything to try to succeed
7
4.2
To do something risky hoping to get a good result
4
5.8
Risk all your money or chances on one plan
4
4.2
Try a risky action hoping it will work
2
3.0
To do something that might lead to harm or loss
1
8.5
To risk everything you own on one decision
1
8.5
To try something risky when the result is not certain
To risk all your money because you are sure something will happen
Antonyms
How Risky
Surface Forms
Morphology
bet + the + ranch
The sense 'to risk everything' follows directly from combining 'bet' (to wager) with 'ranch' (a large farm/property): wagering your ranch naturally implies risking all you own. This metaphorical composition is straightforward and similar to transparent variants like 'bet the farm', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Bet the ranch may come from images of American ranchers and gamblers. Imagine a ranch owner putting his whole ranch into one bet in a card game — to bet the land was to 'risk everything', so the phrase means 'to risk everything on a single chance'.