amber gambler
- noun
- Informal
- Many drivers become amber gamblers when approaching traffic lights about to turn red.
Examples
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He has always been an amber gambler, betting big when the odds are uncertain.
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Her reputation as an amber gambler made others nervous about partnering with her on projects.
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Don't be such an amber gambler!
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She is a reckless amber gambler who loves high stakes.
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He has always been an amber gambler, making risky bets in hopes of a big payoff.
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As an amber gambler, she often takes chances on uncertain investments.
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Many students are amber gamblers when deciding whether to skip classes before a big test.
Synonyms
105
3.4
A person who risks money on games or races hoping to win more
27
6.2
A person who buys houses or stocks taking big risks to sell them for much more
17
3.2
A person who tries things that could fail or be dangerous, often for excitement
6
5.9
A person who puts money on the result of a game or race
1
9.1
A person who risks large amounts of money hoping to win big
1
6.8
A person who bets money on the result of an event
1
6.8
A person who places a bet on a game or race
A person who plays games for money, for example at a casino
How Risky
Surface Forms
Morphology
amber + gambler
The compound is not a conventional idiom and the element 'amber' is ambiguous or missing a clear dictionary sense here; knowing 'amber' only as a color or traffic-signal stage does not straightforwardly yield 'dangerous or reckless risk‑taker' when combined with 'gambler'. The meaning appears metaphorical or nonce rather than compositionally predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would likely not infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Amber gambler comes from the image of a driver facing a yellow traffic light and choosing to go through it. The word amber is the yellow light and gambler is someone who takes risks, so the phrase means 'a person who takes dangerous or reckless risks'.