Idiom
bet the farm
Meaning
To be absolutely certain, to have no doubts.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“I would bet the farm that he wins the race.”
“She is so confident in her new business idea that she is ready to bet the farm on its success.”
“Although the market remains volatile, the lead investor is willing to bet the farm that the technology will eventually dominate the entire industry.”
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.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase is not precisely dated, though it is likely a literal reference to the use of real estate as a wager. One theory suggests it emerges from the inherent instability of the agricultural profession. A farmer is required to make annual gambles on crop selection and livestock management, with his success or failure determined by the arrival of rain or the volatility of commodity markets.
When a decision carries the risk of total financial ruin, it is said to be a matter of betting the farm. The term reflects a confidence level sufficient to stake one's entire livelihood and residence on a single outcome. Whether the expression began as a specific anecdote of a lost deed or as a general observation of the farmer's precarious existence remains unproven.
Key words
Related idioms
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