hedge one's bets
The phrase "hedge one's bets" originates from gambling but is now widely used to describe risk management in various contexts.
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Definition
C1General
(idiomatic)To minimize the risk of loss by supporting multiple options.
Example
- She decided to hedge her bets by applying to several universities.
- Investors often hedge their bets by diversifying their portfolios.
C1Bookmaking
(technical)To place bets with a third party to offset potential losses.
Example
- The gambler hedged his bets to ensure he wouldn't lose everything.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hedge one's bets":
hedge indon't put all your eggs in one basketbet the farmall one's eggs in one baskettake a flyerside betplay the angleswatch one's backplay the fieldtempt fateput one's money where one's mouth is