My favorite Idiom
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
United States
January 22, 2016 8:29am CST
My favorite idiom is a simple one....Bet the Farm
I say it a lot, "I bet the farm..." If I lived in the city and only had a small city lot I probably wouldn't use that idiom. But I live in the country and we do have multiple acres and we do have a garden which is a farm in a way - so I feel like I'm OK to use it.
What does it mean? According to the Free Dictionary:
* to spend almost all the money you have on something that you think might bring you success
* to risk everything you have because you are certain of something
When I use 'bet the farm' it is the second definition that fits most of the time.
Example: Later this morning my husband will ask what he should take out of the freezer. He asks that on a daily basis. I know he will ask, therefore, I can honestly say, "I bet the farm my husband will ask what to take out for dinner." It's a win-win situation so I am willing to bet all I own.
The first definition might fit better with someone who is gong to the casino and has high hopes!
Photo belongs to me
12 people like this
10 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
I will go out on a limb and say it's American, the other comments seem to reflect that so far.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@marlina Good! Since we are 'attached' we can share that phrase.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
LOL, it's easy to bet the farm when it comes to husbands isn't it
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502251)
• Italy
22 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill YES! They are so predictable and after dinner he will ask which movie I want to watch, forgetting I already told him this morning.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@LadyDuck LOL, you can set your watch by them sometimes or a lot of times!
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40026)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Jan 16
I have heard that expression before but I have never used it. I tend to say , "well, I'll be" .
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
Maybe it depends you are from/live. There are lots of southern expressions that aren't used up north.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91044)
• United States
22 Jan 16
I could "bet the farm" that my plans to spend more time here today will be interrupted by something or someone
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
That is a 20 acre cow, horse or hay farm that we bought a few years ago. We had planned to build, but changed out minds now it's for sale. We only have 8 acres where we live.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@DianneN The farmer down the road bails it, we don't have to worry about it. If we had built we would have kept 4 acres in the front for us to take care of and the rest he would have bailed for us. In the country we do't have 'lawns' we have green weeds! No Better Homes and Gardens Magazine here.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill That is a lot of land! Our town requires a minimum of 1 1/2 acres to build on. We have 2. Fortunately, there are areas of woods, but the lawns are a pain. We just had them replaced in the fall. That's why we love our condo in FL. Nothing to do!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Jan 16
and I 'bet' there's no such thing! Or maybe it is...
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt That bet I'll take.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I bet you will have some fun at least part of the time on mylot! lol
1 person likes this
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
22 Jan 16
I've heard that expression before, never used it though.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
Now that you read this you are expected to use it in a sentence! LOL
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 16
Thanks, that's actually a farm we own and have up for sale.
