ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bet the farm

idiom
Meaning

To be absolutely certain, to have no doubts.


Origin

disputed origin

Possibly nothing more than a case of real estate as wager stakes, but also plausibly because farmers cannot avoid gambling and the stakes are financial ruin: they must make many decisions (such as which crops to plant each year, and how to manage livestock), and outside factors such as weather or changing commodity markets can dash their hopes. Thus, when making a decision they must ask themselves whether they are confident enough to bet the farm as the wager stakes.

Examples
SIMPLE

I would bet the farm that he wins the race.

CONTEXTUAL

She is so confident in her new business idea that she is ready to bet the farm on its success.

COMPLEX

Although the market remains volatile, the lead investor is willing to bet the farm that the technology will eventually dominate the entire industry.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    best bet

    The best proposal or plan.

  2. 02

    bet one's boots

    To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough to wager an essential possession.

  3. 03

    bet one's bottom dollar

    To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything.

  4. 04

    bet the house

    Synonym of bet the farm.

  5. 05

    bet the ranch

    Synonym of bet the farm.

  6. 06

    buy the farm

    To die; generally, to die in battle or in a plane crash.

  7. 07

    farm nigger

    A supposedly inferior black person whose intellect is compared to that of a field hand.

  8. 08

    farm out

    To subcontract (a task, responsibility, etc.) to another; to outsource.

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