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Glite Dictionary
handicap bet

handicap bet

6.8
A bet that gives a weaker competitor a head start to make the contest more even
  • noun
  • /ˈhændɪˌkæp bɛt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : apuesta con hándicap
  • With a handicap bet, you can back the weaker team even if they don't win outright.

Examples

  • He decided to place a handicap bet on the underdog, hoping the head start would make a difference.

  • The odds for a handicap bet are often more appealing to experienced gamblers.

  • I placed a handicap bet on the underdog team.

  • Have you ever tried a handicap bet before?

  • He decided to place a handicap bet on the underdog, hoping the head start would make the contest more even.

  • With a handicap bet, you can support the weaker team by giving them a virtual advantage to balance the competition.

  • The odds for a handicap bet often attract bettors looking for a more balanced chance of winning.

Synonyms

gamble
vshandicap bet
12 3.9

Risking money on a game or event to win money

is a specific wager that evens competitors by giving a virtual advantage

How Balanced

even money
5 4.4
handicap bet
  • Jargon
6.8

Surface Forms

handicap bet singular
handicap bets plural

Morphology

handicap + bet

The meaning 'a wager where a weaker competitor is given a virtual advantage' is directly and compositionally derived from 'handicap' (an adjustment to equalize competitors' chances) plus 'bet' (a wager). This straightforward semantic combination is common in sports/gambling contexts and parallels constructions in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Handicap bet comes from the idea of giving a weaker player a handicap, a few extra points or a 'head start', before the game, and then people place a bet on the result. So a Handicap bet means a bet where the weaker side is given an extra advantage to make the contest more 'even'.