gamble

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc: [V] to gamble at cards / on the horses * [VN] I gambled all my winnings on the last race. 2 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk losing sth in the hope of being successful: [VN] He's gambling his reputation on this deal. * [V] It was wrong to gamble with our children's future. gambler noun: He was a compulsive gambler (= found it difficult to stop). PHRASALVERBS gamble sth<->away to lose sth such as money, possessions, etc. by gambling: Every weekend he drinks and gambles away his earnings. gamble on sth / on doing sth to take a risk with sth, hoping that you will be successful: He gambled on being able to buy a ticket at the last minute. noun [sing.] an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success: She knew she was taking a gamble but decided it was worth it. * They invested money in the company right at the start and the gamble paid off (= brought them success). * It was the biggest gamble of his political career.