Gambling Related Idioms

Business also involves taking risks with money, and for this reason gambling idioms have become very common in business. They are especially common in the world of investing. If you think about it, betting money on cards is a lot like making a high-risk investment. The subject of gambling is one that generates a lot of opinions, and some great quotes too. On this page we have put together a collection of some of the best gambling related quotes. We start with a few of our personal favorites and offer our own comments on these quotes. Then we have some of the top poker quotes, again including our own comments. BEP 176 – English Idioms: Gambling Idioms (Part 2) Business English, Business English Vocabulary, Business Idioms, ESL Podcast / December 12, 2010 May 31, 2019 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second episode of our two-part series on English gambling idioms. In our last blog post, we pointed out the importance of idioms in a business setting by presenting a compilation of 50 widely used business idioms. In this blog post, we want to pick up on the topic of idioms once again. There is no better way of sounding like a native English-speaker then knowing, when and how to use an idiom.

We have picked nine of our favorite gambling quotes and listed them below, along with some details about the people that made them and our take on what they mean. These quotes stand out for us as they either contain excellent advice or are great reflections of what gambling is all about.

“Quit while you’re ahead. All the best gamblers do.”

This is a quote from Baltasar Gracián y Morales, a 17th century philosopher. We like it because, several hundred years later, it remains one of the single best pieces of gambling advice. If you can learn to quit when you are ahead, then you have an excellent chance of being a successful gambler.

This is an Irish proverb which highlights one of the biggest mistakes a gambler can make: chasing losses. In the same way that you have to know when to quit when you are ahead, there’s also a time to cut your losses and quit.

“Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.”

For many gamblers, this quote neatly sums why they gamble. It’s not just about the money itself, it’s the joy of winning it. The quote was from the movie The Color of Money, said by the character Fast Eddie Felson – played by Paul Newman.

“I’ve learned the lesson that the worst thing that can happen to a gambler is to let his recent losses or wins knock him off keel emotionally.”

Andrew Beyer highlighted one of the biggest failings of gamblers in this quote: letting emotions cloud judgment. Beyer was an expert on horse racing betting, writing four books on the subject. He also designed the Beyer Speed Figure, a system for rating Thoroughbred racehorses.

The origins of this proverb aren’t entirely clear. It’s a simple statement but entirely true. If a horse you have bet on wins, you’ll always wish you had bet more on it. The premise applies to any form of gambling.

“Once you start thinking you have nothing left to learn, you have everything to learn.”

Really, this quote could apply to life in general. It was actually made in the context of poker, by Steve Badger. Badger owned one of the first, and best, websites dedicated to educating poker players. In this quote he’s pointing out that if you think you know it all you are sadly mistaken.

“Gambling is not about how well you play the games, it’s really about how well you handle your money.”

This is from poker player V. P. Pappy. We could pick a number of quotes from him as he’s made several great ones, but this is probably our favorite in terms of the advice it contains. He is making the excellent point that good money management is absolutely essential to successful gambling.

“At gambling, the deadly sin is to mistake bad play for bad luck.”

This quote is from the James Bond book (and movie) Casino Royale, written by Ian Fleming. It emphasizes a mistake that many gamblers make: blaming bad luck instead of trying to work if they made a bad play or bet.

“There is a very easy way to return from a casino with a small fortune; go there with a large one.”

Something of a tongue in cheek quote this one, from Jack Yelton. He is essentially highlighting the fact that you are likely to lose money playing casino games. He’s right of course; the house does have an edge over the long term.

That doesn’t mean that casino games should be avoided at all costs, as they are great fun and it’s possible to win money if you get lucky. It’s just important to recognize that the odds are ultimately against you.

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Related to gambling: Gambling addiction

gamble (something) away

To lose or deplete the entirety of something through gambling. Please tell me you didn't gamble away our savings at the poker game tonight.

gamble on (someone or something)

1. To risk an amount of money by betting on a particular person or outcome. If you gamble on the winning boxer, you'll make a lot of money tonight.

2. To predict or anticipate something. I'm hiding in the closet because I didn't gamble on my ex-boyfriend coming to this party too!

take a gamble

To do something risky or attempt something that might fail in order for a chance at success, fortune, etc. I know I'm taking a gamble by starting a business in a recession, but I don't want to put off my dream any longer.The coach took a gamble by calling that play, but his team was able to score a touchdown, so it paid off.

gamble on someone or something

1.Lit. to make a wager on something concerning someone or something. I wouldn't gamble on it happening.Don't gamble on that horse. You'll be sorry.

2.Fig. to run a risk by choosing or depending on someone or something. I wouldn't gamble on Ted's being able to come. I don't think he can.Don't gamble on Ted. I'm almost sure he won't come.

gamble something away

to lose all of something by gambling. He gambled all his money away.He gambled away all his money.

gamble on

1. To wager something on the outcome of some event: I gambled all my money on the first race. They don't like to gamble on poker games; they just play for fun.

2. To wager something on some participant in an event: I gambled $50 on my favorite horse.

3. To anticipate or foresee something: I didn't gamble on it raining, so I hadn't brought an umbrella.

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