ESL Podcast 201 - Making a Bet

back of the line - end of a line of people waiting for something, some event

We'll never get in. I can't even see the back of the line from here!

to step out of line - to leave your place in a line of people

If you'll hold my place, I'll step out of line to get us some water and snacks from the store across the street.

ahead of - in front of; before

If we don't hurry, the other team will get ahead of us and reach the finish line before we do.

to flip for it - to decide a winner by using a coin; using a coin, each person selects a side, then one person throws it in the air to see which side is up when it lands

There are three of us and only one ticket left for the show. Why don't we flip for it?

heads/tails - the front side (heads) or the back side (tails) of a coin

If it's heads, he has to wash my car, and if it's tails, I have to cook him dinner.

to take the odds - to decide to take the risk or the chance

He took the odds on that basketball game and he won for the first time in weeks.

you're on - said when someone accepts a bet or a gamble; to agree to a contest or competition

You think you can beat me in a bike race around the park? You're on!

your lucky day - you are fortunate; you have good luck

It's your lucky day. You can buy this MP3 player for only $20.

double or nothing - a bet in gambling where a player bets again to double or cancel the debt depending on the result

I can't believe I lost that last game. How about double or nothing?

stakes - money or something valuable that people gamble to win or play for

She's playing a dangerous game at work, but the stakes are a better job and a higher salary.

no matter what happens - an expression used to assure someone that something will occur even if there are difficulties or problems

They told us that the electricity will be back on tomorrow morning no matter what happens.

that's the idea - an expression used to tell someone that they are correct or that they are doing something correctly; that's right

• Am I doing this math problem correctly?
• Yes, that's the idea. Now all you need to do is finish solving it.

what do you say? - will you agree?

I promise never to forget your birthday again if you'll just give me another chance. What do you say?

to talk (someone) into (something) - to convince someone about something; to get someone to do something that they don't want to

She tried talking Curtis into coming with us this weekend, but he said he had too much work to do.

your luck will hold up - your good luck will continue

Don't bet that your luck will hold up. If I were you, I'd take my winnings and quit now.