bank on
B2Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To rely on or depend on something happening or someone doing something.
To base one's plans or expectations on a particular outcome or person's actions, often with a sense of trust or confidence that it will occur.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a degree of trust and expectation. Often used when the outcome is crucial for plans. Can carry a slight connotation of vulnerability if the reliance is misplaced.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the phrasal verb identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of reliance and expectation in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common and natural in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
bank on + noun/noun phrase (We're banking on good weather.)bank on + pronoun (You can bank on me.)bank on + gerund clause (They're banking on getting a loan.)bank on + someone/something + to-infinitive (I'm banking on him to finish the report.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “You can bank on it! (Emphatic assurance.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for financial forecasts, project planning, and team reliability (e.g., 'We're banking on the Q3 sales figures.')
Academic
Less common; may appear in informal discussions about research outcomes or deadlines.
Everyday
Very common for plans involving weather, transport, or other people's help (e.g., 'I'm banking on you to pick up the kids.')
Technical
Rare; not a term of art in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We're banking on the train being on time for our connection.
- You can always bank on James in a crisis.
American English
- We're banking on the game being televised locally.
- Don't bank on a tax refund this year.
adverb
British English
- N/A for the phrasal verb 'bank on'.
- N/A
American English
- N/A for the phrasal verb 'bank on'.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- A bankable star (related, but not from the phrasal verb).
- N/A for the phrasal verb 'bank on'.
American English
- A bankable asset (related, but not from the phrasal verb).
- N/A for the phrasal verb 'bank on'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bank on my mum to help me.
- We are banking on sunny weather for the picnic.
- The team is banking on their new player to score goals.
- You shouldn't bank on getting a ticket at the door.
- The government's strategy is banking on a rapid economic recovery.
- I'd banked on him remembering, but he completely forgot.
- The prosecution's case banks heavily on the credibility of a single witness.
- Their ambitious growth projections bank on a series of favourable regulatory decisions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of putting your trust in a BANK as a safe place for your money. When you 'bank on' something, you are putting your trust in it as if it were a safe bet.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST/RELIANCE IS A FINANCIAL DEPOSIT (You deposit your hopes/plans in a person or event as you would deposit money in a bank.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'банк на'. The Russian equivalent is usually 'рассчитывать на' or 'полагаться на'.
- Avoid confusing with the noun 'bank' (финансовый банк or берег реки).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bank in' instead of 'bank on'.
- Using it with 'that'-clause without a noun (Incorrect: 'I bank on that he will come.' Correct: 'I bank on him coming.' or 'I bank on the fact that he will come.')
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'bank on' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal. It is common in everyday speech and business contexts but is less likely to be used in very formal academic or legal writing where 'rely on' or 'depend upon' might be preferred.
Yes, it is often used in warnings or negative statements (e.g., 'Don't bank on it,' 'I wouldn't bank on him being on time').
They are very close synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Bank on' can sometimes imply a slightly more calculated risk or a basis for plans, while 'count on' is slightly more general for reliance. In practice, the difference is minimal.
It is most frequently used in the present continuous ('am/is/are banking on') for current plans and the simple present/future ('can/will bank on'). The past tense ('banked on') is common when talking about a reliance that did or did not pay off.