Betting the farm

Meaning

Risking everything on a single bet.

Usage

Used when someone commits desperately to one project.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Farmers once risked their land in gambling, a powerful metaphor in rural America.

A late 20th-century expression.