hedge one’s bets

H

hedge one’s bets (idiom)
/hɛdʒ wʌnz bɛts/

Meanings

• To protect oneself against loss by supporting multiple options or courses of action.
• To reduce risk by taking precautionary measures.
• To avoid committing fully to one decision or outcome.

Synonyms: play it safe; minimize risk; safeguard; cover all bases; spread risk.

Example Sentences

1. The investor decided to hedge his bets by putting money into both real estate and stocks.
2. She always hedges her bets by preparing a backup plan.
3. Politicians often hedge their bets instead of giving a clear answer.
4. He was hedging bets by applying to both local and international universities.
5. If you’re unsure about the outcome, it’s smart to hedge your bets with a second option.

Origin and History

The verb hedge originates from the noun hedge—a protective fence or enclosure—hence the figurative senses “limit,” “secure,” or “avoid full commitment.” As a verb, hedge is attested in English from the late 14th century (“to enclose; to provide a hedge”), acquiring the figurative meaning “to evade or avoid committing oneself” by the 1590s and “to insure oneself against loss (as in a bet)” by the 1670s.

Gambling Practice Theory (Dominant View)

The idiom “hedge one’s bets” is widely explained as arising from literal betting practice: a bettor hedges by laying off part of a wager—placing offsetting smaller bets to reduce potential loss. In Restoration‐era London this practice and its slang were sufficiently current to be used onstage.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest known print instance appears in the prologue to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham’s satirical play The Rehearsal (first staged 7 December 1671; published 1672):

“Now, Criticks, do your worst, that here are met;
For, like a Rook, I have hedg’d in my Bet.“

Country Of Origin

The idiom originates in England (Restoration London theatre and betting culture). The play’s first performance and its 1672 publication were in London.

Early Diffusion and Confirmation

Contemporary and near-contemporary discussions, as well as later lexicographic notes, treat hedge (in) a bet as a live 17th-century expression for limiting risk. Early English Books Online searches and commentary note further 1670s attestations following The Rehearsal, supporting the idiom’s quick diffusion.

From Literal to Idiomatic

From the literal “laying off” of wagers, the phrase broadened to any strategy that reduces exposure to unfavorable outcomes—hence today’s figurative “protect yourself by pursuing multiple options.” Modern explanations preserve this connection, tracing the figurative meaning directly to the 17th-century betting sense and ultimately to hedge as “protection/limitation.”

Chronology (Concise)

• c. 1590s: hedge (v.) “evade; avoid committing oneself.”
• 1670s: hedge (in) a bet “insure against loss by offsetting bets.”
• 1671/1672: Earliest printed instance in The Rehearsal (staged 7 Dec 1671; published 1672).
• Later 17th century onward: Spread of the figurative idiom hedge one’s bets in general usage.

Source Notes

Primary evidence for the earliest record is the 1672 printed text of The Rehearsal and authenticated transcriptions; scholarly references consolidate the semantic pathway from physical hedges to financial and rhetorical hedging.

Stock Market