76 Promises and bets

A

B 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.

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.

76.1

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76.4

Which sentence in each pair sounds more formal?

1 A: Ricky promised to love her always.

B: Ricky pledged to love her always. 2 A: Tom swore he would take revenge.

B: Tom vowed he would take revenge. 3 A: Lou wagered a lot of money on the result of the elections.

B: Lou bet a lot of money on the result of the elections. 4 A: Lina made a resolution at New Year to give up smoking.

B: Lina made a vow at New Year to give up smoking.

Fill the gaps in these sentences with one word.

1 He her the moon but they ended up in a tiny flat in the least attractive part of town. 2 At the trial, the witnesses were all under to tell the truth. 3 When you’re revising, your bet would be to focus on Shakespeare. There are always lots of questions about him! 4 My mother’s not a real gambler, but she does like to have the occasional on the horses. 5 Rob promised to give me his old car, but he’s gone on his word and sold it to his neighbour. 6 Marina’s bound to pass her driving test first time. I’d bet my on it!

Rewrite these sentences using the word in brackets, so meaning is the same.

1 I think you should stay overnight in a hotel near the airport. (bet) 2 My father drinks these herbal teas and believes they are wonderful. (swears) 3 John’s been rather lazy with his homework, but he has promised to try harder next year. (leaf) 4 I was sure I locked the door when I went out. (sworn) 5 The writer’s new play sounds as if it is likely to be as good as his last one. (promises) 6 I’m sure that the Democratic Party will win the next election. (money) 7 Do you ever buy national lottery tickets? (flutter) 8 Her mother disliked the film because it contained so much bad language. (swear) 9 The documentary promises to be controversial. (anticipate) 10 I minimised my risk by buying shares in both of the companies that had a serious chance of winning the contract. (hedge)

Over to you

• ‘Promises and piecrusts are made to be broken, they say.’ (Jonathan Swift, Irish writer, 1667–1745)

What point is Jonathan Swift making, in your opinion, and how is his use of language effective? • ‘To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.’ (Mark Twain, American novelist, 1835–1910)

Do you agree with him? • Look at what some people promise one another during a wedding service:

‘… to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part.’ (part of Church of

England wedding vows)

What wedding vows do people make in your country? Can you translate them? • In the UK and the US, witnesses in law courts swear that the evidence they give will be

‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’.

What oath do witnesses have to swear in your country?