# play the ponies

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-the-ponies
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

to bet on horse racing.

## Examples

- He likes to play the ponies on the weekend.
- My uncle spends most of his Saturday afternoons at the track trying to play the ponies.
- Despite his family's warnings about the financial risks, he continued to play the ponies in hopes of winning a large sum.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.