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Promises and bets A
Promises If you promise someone the earth/moon, you promise them a great deal. It is usually implied that such a promise is unrealistic: The afternoon promises to be interesting! [the speaker expects it will be interesting = We anticipate that the afternoon will be interesting] To anticipate something is to expect it before it happens. Promise can also be used to indicate positive future development: The child already shows great promise as a violinist. She’s a promising artist although her style is still rather immature. An oath / to swear is a formal promise. In court, witnesses are put on/under oath when they have to swear to tell the truth. Notice how swear is often used in informal spoken English in expressions: I could have sworn I left my purse on the table. [was absolutely certain] I think she lives on Rose Street but I couldn’t swear to it. [am not totally sure] My mother swears by these vitamin pills. [uses them and thinks they are wonderful] Tom often uses swear words / bad language. [taboo expressions] To pledge (a pledge) means to promise something, often friendship or money: Mayor Williams has pledged millions of dollars to improve the city centre. To vow (a vow) is to make a determined decision or promise to do something: He vowed to discover who had killed his father. At a marriage ceremony, the couple exchange vows. Both vow and pledge are found more in written than spoken English. New Year’s resolutions are special promises to turn over a new leaf at the beginning of a new year. [to change your behaviour for the better]
Resolutions and vows, like promises or pledges, can be made, kept or broken. If you go back on your word, you break a promise.
Language help Swear can mean either to make a solemn promise or to use taboo language.
B
Bets To bet (a bet) is to risk something, usually money, on the unknown result of something, in the hope of winning more money; people spend (and lose) a lot of money betting on horse racing or football matches, for example. Putting money on the results of a game of some kind is called gambling. The amount of money that you risk is your stake. You can stake a sum of money on something happening. If something is at stake, then it is at risk: Many lives will be at stake if the flood barrier is not built. A more formal word for bet is wager: She put a wager of £10 on a horse. Both words can be used in a non-literal sense: I’d wager that he will come to a bad end. There are a number of informal expressions connected with betting. Your best bet would be to look for a part-time job. [the best decision or choice] You think Stuart’ll win? Don’t bet on it! [I think what you’ve just said is unlikely to happen] My granny enjoys having a flutter on the horses. [having a small bet] I’d put (good) money / bet my life on James getting the job. [I’m sure that James will get the job] Do you feel like coming to the beach with us? You bet! [I certainly do!] You can also hedge your bets by investing in several companies. [protect yourself from the results of making a single wrong choice]
The odds are the statistical or betting chances of something happening. What are the odds of Olivia finishing her course, do you think? The odds are against her getting that promotion.
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English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
