take a gamble
Roll the dice
To take a gamble is to accept risk in hopes of a favorable outcome.
The phrase implies conscious choice—you know the odds are uncertain but proceed anyway: I took a gamble on the new restaurant and it paid off.
Unlike simply gambling, the expression often applies to everyday decisions rather than games of chance.
- riskPossibility of harm
- throw cautionAbandon careful consideration
- stakeSharpened post or share
- all or nothingExtreme without compromise
- speculateGuess based on incomplete evidence
play the odds · venture · bet · leap of faith · shot in the dark · chance · thrill-seeking · wager · overconfidence · roll the dice · spin the wheel · courage · fearlessness · fortune favors · punt · hazard · long odds · reward
- gambling lingoall in, ante up, raise the stakes, go all in, high roller
- risk phrasesrisk it all, go for broke, roll the dice, go all in, risk it
- try phrasesgive it a shot, have a go, try your luck, give it a whirl, make an effort
take a gambleplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · hedge your bets · play by the rules · tread carefully
take a gamblethink twice
Deliberate before acting
hold back · wait and see · bide your time · sit on the fence · dither
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, takeover, takeoff, takeaway