You might be tempted to bet the farm that a list of phrases and idioms borrowed from the world of gambling wouldn’t be too long. But, as we discovered, you’d likely cash in your chips before finding them all. So, we’re going to hedge our bets and settle on exploring the origins and meanings of ten of the most common gambling terms that have found their way into our everyday conversations.
Double down
A person who chases a big reward following an equally large risk—like someone who bases an argument on information that’s been proven untrustworthy, can be described as doubling down. This term is taken directly from blackjack, where players can double their original bet after receiving their second card and receive just one more card to finish their hand.
Blue chip
The term blue chip is often used to describe large, successful companies, as well as talented high school athletes being scouted by universities to play college sports. Basically, a blue chip is something perceived to have a high value. You can draw a straight line between this meaning and its origins in table games, where blue chips often have a higher value than other chips in play.
Pass the buck
Want to shift responsibility to someone else? We call this passing the buck. And it’s not too far off what it originally meant in gambling. In card games, a marker known as a “buck” was used to identify the current dealer. When it came time for someone else to deal, players would pass the buck.
Gimmick
We tend to think of a gimmick as a hook companies use to attract buyers’ attention. But its origin lies in gambling machinery. In the early part of the 20th century, a gimmick was a specific part inside a gambling device—like a slot machine or roulette wheel—that secretly controlled its operation.
Ace in the hole
If you’ve ever had a secret edge—like, say, a last ditch, third down play that the other team doesn’t know about—you’ve had an ace in the hole. This phrase comes from stud poker. If a player’s face-down cards include an ace—which represents a significant advantage—it’s an ace in the hole.
Crapshoot
If you’ve no idea which among a set of possible outcomes is likely, you might say it’s a crapshoot. The term’s origin lies in craps, a table game that uses dice. Craps odds are nearly 50-50, so when you throw (or “shoot”) the dice, it’s impossible to predict with any certainty whether you’ll win.
Down to the wire
When a time-dependent outcome is difficult to predict, we’ll often say it’s coming down to the wire. This phrase comes from 19th century horse-racing, where it had a literal meaning. A wire was strung across the finish line to help detect which horse crossed first in close races.
Aboveboard
People who want to clearly indicate that a business or transaction is fair and legitimate might say that it’s aboveboard. This is another term that comes from card games, where honest players would keep their hands “aboveboard”—meaning above the table—so that they couldn’t be accused of slipping cards into their hands.
When the chips are down
When the chips are down is modern shorthand for “when things are going badly.” The phrase likely comes from casino games, where players keep stacks of chips. If you’re having an unlucky night and your stack has noticeably decreased in height, then your chips are down.
Close to the vest
You may also have heard this one as “close to the chest,” but they mean the same thing: To reveal nothing or keep your thoughts to yourself. The original phrase comes from poker, where players would hold their cards “close to the vest” to keep them hidden from view.
Now that you know about the histories of some of the most common gambling terms that have crossed into mainstream English, we’ll sweeten the pot with a quick and fun quiz.
Ever wonder what kind of gambler you are? Perhaps you’re a maximizer—someone who likes to get plenty of bang for their buck. Or maybe you’re an adventurer, someone who likes games with plenty of sounds and lights to enhance the experience. Our PlaySmart Quiz takes just a couple of minutes and could help you better understand how to get the most out of your time.
While you’re here, you can also check out My PlaySmart tools designed to help personalize your play and keep your betting fun. You can learn how games work—including how odds are calculated and applied in everything from table games to sports betting—and discover how to create a betting budget that fits your playing style while keeping your gambling time in check.
Regardless of your play style, remember to keep it fun. And remember, whether you win or lose, it always comes down to the luck of the draw.
