Bet your bottom dollar. The Phrase Finder says it’s an American phrase dating from 1856 [1]. It means ‘ a sure thing’. I’ve heard it and used it. But until now I’ve never thought about the link between bottom dollar and sure thing. The Free Dictionary says your bottom dollar’s your last bit of money which you’d only risk on a sure bet [2]. English for Students says poker players stack their betting chips and take the top ones when betting, but when they bet all their chips on a good hand, they pick up or push the stack from the bottom chip – literally betting their bottom dollar [3]. Last Thursday the Australian Grand Prix Corporation’s latest annual report was tabled in the Victorian Parliament. It reveals a A$49.2M loss in 2010 [4]. This is a massive 22.7% up from the previous record loss – of A$40.1M in 2009 and 2008. (Prior losses were A$34.6M in 2007, A$15.6M in 2006, A$13.6M in 2005, A$12.6M in 2004, A$10.5M in 2003.) Of course the 2010 loss was blamed on the GFC. But the GFC was much worse in 2008/9. And why the Age’s teaser (in the photograph) mentions the government, escapes me. Well actually the government’s relevant. Because it’s the government, and only the government, that’s propping up this economically and environmentally catastrophic event. Oh, and by the way, do I reckon this year’s true loss is much more the sanitised A$49.2M? I’d bet my bottom dollar on it.
2 weeks ago
