safe bet

Meaning

A 'safe bet' refers to an option, action, or prediction that is highly likely to be correct, successful, or risk-free. It comes from the world of gambling but is used in everyday conversation to describe reliable choices where you cannot easily go wrong.

Examples

• Taking an umbrella today is a safe bet; the sky looks incredibly dark.

  Taking an umbrella today is a safe bet; the sky looks incredibly dark.

• If you don't know what to buy him, a gift card is always a safe bet.

  If you don't know what to buy him, a gift card is always a safe bet.

• It's a safe bet that the movie will be a blockbuster given the famous cast.

  It's a safe bet that the movie will be a blockbuster given the famous cast.

• Italian food is a safe bet for the group dinner because everyone likes pasta.

  Italian food is a safe bet for the group dinner because everyone likes pasta.

• Buying a house in this neighborhood is a safe bet since property values are rising.

  Buying a house in this neighborhood is a safe bet since property values are rising.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ It is a secure bet that she will arrive late.

  ✓ It is a safe bet that she will arrive late.

  'Safe bet' is a fixed collocation. Replacing 'safe' with synonyms like 'secure' or 'certain' sounds unnatural to native speakers.

• ✗ I made a safe bet to invest in that stock.

  ✓ Investing in that stock was a safe bet.

  In everyday speech, we describe an action or situation as being a safe bet rather than saying we 'made' a safe bet, unless we are talking about actual sports betting.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you're looking for a reliable car, a Japanese sedan is always a ___.

  💡 a dependable, low-risk choice

  Show answer

  safe bet

• It's a ___ that they will postpone the game if this rain continues.

  💡 highly likely prediction

  Show answer

  safe bet