English Reference
Word noun

skinner

n.
US /ˈskɪnɝ/ UK /skˈɪnɐ/ skin·ner UK spelling skinner's, skinner's
Definition
  1. 01 C2 Proficiency SlangBritish English Sport

    a situation where a bookmaker wins all the bets because no one picked the winner.

    a bookmaker's windfall occurring when no bettors back the winning participant, resulting in the bookmaker retaining all stakes.

    Simple

    “The race was a total skinner for the bookies when the 100-1 outsider won.”

    In context

    “The unexpected victory of the rank outsider turned the final race into a skinner, leaving the betting ring in stunned silence.”

    Usage

    Often used in horse racing or greyhound racing contexts.

    Synonyms
    windfallclean sweep
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated