gamble // verb, noun

■ verb [+ obj or no obj]

1

to take a risk with sth, hoping that you will be successful:

He's gambling his reputation on the deal.

We gambled that consumers would pay more for an online service.

They gambled on being able to find enough money to get the company out of its difficulties.

She accuses the government of gambling with the economy.

2

to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc:

He gambled all his money on the race.

gambler // noun [C]:

These shares, down 5 cents to 32.5 cents, are for hardened (= serious) gamblers only.

She was a compulsive gambler (= she found it difficult to stop).

PHRASAL VERBS

gamble sth away

to lose sth such as money, possessions, etc. by gambling:

They found their funds had been gambled away on the stock market.

■ 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:

They took a gamble on the yen going up in value.

Entering the sports car market was a huge gamble for us, but it paid off (= was successful).

• tax break
• tax collector
• tax credit
• tax declaration
• tax-deductible
• tax deduction
• tax-deferred
• tax depreciation
• tax-efficient
• tax evasion
• tax exemption
• tax exile
• tax-favored
• tax form
• tax-free
• tax haven
• tax holiday
• tax incentive
• tax invoice
• tax liability
• tax lien
• tax loss
• taxman
• tax obligation
• taxpayer