Gambling is a game of chance. People often take risks, hoping to win something big. It might be money, a prize, or even a better result in life. Because of this, many everyday phrases are based on gambling. These phrases, called idioms, use gambling words to talk about life, choices, and risks.
You don’t have to play poker or go to a casino to hear these idioms. People use them in sports, school, work, and family talks. Idioms about gambling help us understand when someone takes a big risk, makes a bold choice, or leaves things to luck. In this article, we will learn 33 idioms about gambling. You will see what they mean, how to use them, and where they came from.
Idioms About Gambling
1. Roll the dice
Meaning: Take a chance or risk
Example Sentence: He decided to roll the dice and try out for the football team. We rolled the dice and moved to a new city.
Other ways to say: Take a risk, try your luck
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from dice games where the outcome is based on luck
Usage: When someone tries something uncertain
2. Play your cards right
Meaning: Make good choices to succeed
Example Sentence: If you play your cards right, you’ll get a summer job. She played her cards right and made new friends.
Other ways to say: Make smart moves, act wisely
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games where winning depends on smart moves
Usage: When someone has a chance to succeed with good planning
3. Poker face
Meaning: A blank face that shows no emotion
Example Sentence: She kept a poker face during the spelling bee. He had a poker face when he opened his birthday gift.
Other ways to say: No reaction, keep a straight face
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, players hide their feelings to not show if they have good or bad cards
Usage: When someone hides how they feel
4. Up the ante
Meaning: Raise the stakes or risk more
Example Sentence: They upped the ante by offering a bigger prize. He upped the ante by staying in the game longer.
Other ways to say: Increase the risk, raise the stakes
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, the ante is a small bet everyone must pay to play
Usage: When someone raises the level of effort or risk
5. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: Win big or get lucky
Example Sentence: She hit the jackpot when she found that rare comic book. He felt like he hit the jackpot with his new dog.
Other ways to say: Win big, get lucky
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from slot machines when all symbols line up and give the biggest prize
Usage: When someone gets something very good or lucky
6. Go for broke
Meaning: Risk everything to win
Example Sentence: He went for broke in the final game. We went for broke to win the science fair.
Other ways to say: Risk it all, give it your all
Fun Fact/Origin: Used during World War II by a U.S. Army unit made of Japanese Americans
Usage: When someone gives full effort and takes a big risk
7. Ace up your sleeve
Meaning: A secret advantage
Example Sentence: She had an ace up her sleeve for the talent show. He always keeps an ace up his sleeve during games.
Other ways to say: Secret trick, hidden help
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cheating at cards where players hid an extra ace
Usage: When someone has a hidden way to win
8. Know when to fold
Meaning: Know when to quit
Example Sentence: He knew when to fold and walked away from the deal. She knew when to fold during the argument.
Other ways to say: Know when to stop, quit wisely
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, folding means giving up your hand to stop losing more
Usage: When it’s smart to quit before things get worse
9. Luck of the draw
Meaning: Something that happens by chance
Example Sentence: Getting the last cookie was just the luck of the draw. They won front-row seats by the luck of the draw.
Other ways to say: Random chance, pure luck
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from drawing cards or lottery tickets
Usage: When the outcome depends on luck
10. Stack the deck
Meaning: Set things up unfairly to win
Example Sentence: The game was unfair because someone stacked the deck. He felt the teacher stacked the deck against him.
Other ways to say: Cheat, make it unfair
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from arranging a deck of cards to give someone an advantage
Usage: When someone cheats or arranges things unfairly
11. Wild card
Meaning: An unpredictable person or thing
Example Sentence: He’s a wild card—you never know what he’ll do. That team is a wild card in the tournament.
Other ways to say: Unpredictable one, surprise element
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games where a wild card can be used as any card
Usage: When someone or something is uncertain or surprising
12. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Back up your words with actions
Example Sentence: If he thinks he’s right, he should put his money where his mouth is. She said she could win, so we told her to put her money where her mouth is.
Other ways to say: Prove it, take action
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from betting—if you believe in something, you bet on it
Usage: When someone should prove what they say
13. Bet the farm
Meaning: Risk everything on one chance
Example Sentence: He bet the farm on his idea working. They bet the farm on winning the final game.
Other ways to say: Risk it all, go all in
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when people risked their whole farm on a gamble
Usage: When someone takes a very big risk
14. House always wins
Meaning: The system is built to benefit the owner
Example Sentence: In the end, the house always wins. It’s hard to win because the house always wins.
Other ways to say: It’s rigged, advantage to the system
Fun Fact/Origin: In casinos, the house means the casino, which usually ends up winning
Usage: When the rules are made to help the one in charge
15. Play the odds
Meaning: Make a choice based on what is most likely
Example Sentence: We played the odds and chose the safest answer. He always plays the odds instead of guessing.
Other ways to say: Make a smart guess, follow probability
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gambling where odds show how likely something is to happen
Usage: When someone chooses the safest or smartest chance
16. In the cards
Meaning: Something that might happen
Example Sentence: A snow day might be in the cards tomorrow. Is a vacation in the cards this summer?
Other ways to say: Possible, may happen
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card reading or fortune telling
Usage: When something could happen but isn’t sure
17. Ante up
Meaning: Pay or give something, usually to start
Example Sentence: Everyone had to ante up $5 to join the game. He anteed up his time to help clean the yard.
Other ways to say: Pay in, contribute
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, everyone must put money in the pot before the game starts
Usage: When someone is asked to give something to join in
18. Call someone’s bluff
Meaning: Challenge someone to prove they’re not lying
Example Sentence: She called his bluff when he said he could beat her in a race. I don’t think he’s serious—I might call his bluff.
Other ways to say: Dare, test someone
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, bluffing is pretending to have better cards
Usage: When someone checks if a person is faking
19. All in
Meaning: Totally committed
Example Sentence: They went all in on their science project. He’s all in for the soccer tournament.
Other ways to say: Fully involved, completely ready
Fun Fact/Origin: In poker, going all in means betting everything you have
Usage: When someone gives full effort or support
20. Long shot
Meaning: A very unlikely chance
Example Sentence: Winning the contest was a long shot, but he tried anyway. It’s a long shot, but maybe it will snow in June.
Other ways to say: Unlikely, small chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horse racing where the long shot horse had low chances
Usage: When something is possible but not likely
21. Play the hand you’re dealt
Meaning: Do your best with what you have
Example Sentence: She played the hand she was dealt and did great. Life isn’t perfect, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
Other ways to say: Make the best of it, do your best
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games where you must play with the cards given
Usage: When someone makes the best out of a tough situation
22. Have a chip on your shoulder
Meaning: Be upset or angry about something
Example Sentence: He has a chip on his shoulder after losing the game. She acted like she had a chip on her shoulder all day.
Other ways to say: Hold a grudge, stay upset
Fun Fact/Origin: In the 1800s, boys would place a chip of wood on their shoulder daring others to knock it off to start a fight
Usage: When someone seems mad or ready to argue
23. Luck runs out
Meaning: Good luck ends
Example Sentence: His luck ran out when he failed the last question. They had fun until their luck ran out and it started to rain.
Other ways to say: Out of luck, unlucky now
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in gambling when someone stops winning
Usage: When something was going well but suddenly stops
24. Put it all on the line
Meaning: Risk everything
Example Sentence: She put it all on the line in the spelling bee. He put it all on the line to get into the team.
Other ways to say: Risk everything, take a big chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in gambling or contests when everything is at stake
Usage: When someone takes a big risk
25. Throw your hat in the ring
Meaning: Enter a competition
Example Sentence: He threw his hat in the ring for class president. She’s going to throw her hat in the ring for the art contest.
Other ways to say: Join in, take part
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing, where a fighter would toss a hat in the ring to show they want to fight
Usage: When someone enters a contest or challenge
26. Win hands down
Meaning: Win easily
Example Sentence: They won hands down in the math contest. She won hands down in the race.
Other ways to say: Win easily, no contest
Fun Fact/Origin: From horse racing—jockeys could lower their hands if the win was sure
Usage: When someone wins without a struggle
27. Be dealt a bad hand
Meaning: Start with a disadvantage
Example Sentence: He was dealt a bad hand, but he kept trying. Sometimes life deals you a bad hand.
Other ways to say: Start unlucky, face hard times
Fun Fact/Origin: In card games, getting bad cards means harder play
Usage: When someone has a hard start or challenge
28. On a winning streak
Meaning: Having several wins in a row
Example Sentence: She’s on a winning streak at the arcade. They’re on a winning streak in basketball.
Other ways to say: Lucky run, keep winning
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports and gambling, where wins keep coming
Usage: When someone keeps having success
29. Shoot craps
Meaning: Take a big risk
Example Sentence: He shot craps by picking a hard topic. They shot craps by traveling without a plan.
Other ways to say: Take a big chance, gamble
Fun Fact/Origin: Craps is a dice game with risky moves
Usage: When someone makes a risky choice
30. Play for high stakes
Meaning: Compete for something important
Example Sentence: He was playing for high stakes in the spelling bee. This science fair is high stakes for her.
Other ways to say: Serious competition, big risk
Fun Fact/Origin: In gambling, higher stakes mean more to win or lose
Usage: When much is at risk in a game or challenge
31. Luck of the draw
Meaning: Outcome is random
Example Sentence: We sat near the stage—it was just the luck of the draw. Picking teams was the luck of the draw.
Other ways to say: Random luck, chance result
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to drawing cards or tickets randomly
Usage: When something happens by luck, not planning
32. Cash in your chips
Meaning: Stop or quit
Example Sentence: He cashed in his chips and left the game. She cashed in her chips after finishing her goal.
Other ways to say: Quit, wrap up
Fun Fact/Origin: In casinos, players cash in chips when they are done
Usage: When someone finishes or stops doing something
33. The cards are stacked against you
Meaning: Things are unfair or hard from the start
Example Sentence: The cards were stacked against them, but they tried anyway. She worked hard even though the cards were stacked against her.
Other ways to say: Unfair start, bad chance
Fun Fact/Origin: From cheating in card games where cards are arranged unfairly
Usage: When someone faces tough odds or unfair conditions
Quiz: Idioms About Gambling
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “roll the dice” mean?
A) Clean your room quickly
B) Take a chance or risk
C) Make a new friend
2. If someone has a “poker face,” what are they doing?
A) Showing their feelings
B) Telling jokes
C) Hiding their emotions
3. What does it mean to “play your cards right”?
A) Say silly things
B) Make smart choices
C) Lose on purpose
4. What does “hit the jackpot” mean?
A) Lose something important
B) Win big or get lucky
C) Watch a movie
5. If you “know when to fold,” what are you doing?
A) Keep trying even when it’s not working
B) Quit at the right time
C) Fold your clothes
6. What does it mean if someone is “all in”?
A) Only helping a little
B) Playing a card game
C) Fully committed
7. If someone “bets the farm,” what are they doing?
A) Going to the countryside
B) Risking everything
C) Selling vegetables
8. What does “call someone’s bluff” mean?
A) Believe them no matter what
B) Tell them to prove they’re serious
C) Make a phone call
9. If the “cards are stacked against you,” what does that mean?
A) You are set up to lose
B) You are building something
C) You have a lucky break
10. What does “put your money where your mouth is” mean?
A) Eat lunch quickly
B) Back up your words with actions
C) Say something funny
Answer Key
- B) Take a chance or risk
- C) Hiding their emotions
- B) Make smart choices
- B) Win big or get lucky
- B) Quit at the right time
- C) Fully committed
- B) Risking everything
- B) Tell them to prove they’re serious
- A) You are set up to lose
- B) Back up your words with actions
Wrapping Up
Gambling idioms are part of everyday talk. They help us explain chances, risks, and bold choices. You don’t need to play cards to use them. They show up in school, games, and even family talks. These phrases make language more interesting and fun to use.
Next time you hear someone say, “play your cards right” or “hit the jackpot,” you’ll know what they mean. These idioms can help you speak and understand better in many situations. Try using one when the moment feels right.
