bet the farm

== English == === Etymology === Possibly nothing more than a case of real estate as wager stakes, but also plausibly because farmers cannot avoid gambling and the stakes are financial ruin: they must make many decisions (such as which crops to plant each year, and how to manage livestock), and outside factors such as weather or changing commodity markets can dash their hopes. Thus, when making a decision they must ask themselves whether they are confident enough to bet the farm as the wager stakes. === Pronunciation === === Verb === bet the farm (third-person singular simple present bets the farm, present participle betting the farm, simple past and past participle bet the farm) (idiomatic) To be absolutely certain, to have no doubts. To make a substantial wager or risk. ==== Synonyms ==== bet one's bottom dollar, bet one's boots, bet the ranch, bet the house ==== Translations ==== === See also === buy the farm give away the store play with house money