double or quits
C1Informal, idiomatic
Definition
Meaning
A gamble in which a player risks either doubling what they owe or having the debt cancelled entirely, based on the outcome of a single event.
Figuratively, any situation involving a high-risk decision where one stands to either gain twice as much or lose everything.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in gambling contexts but widely understood metaphorically for high-stakes decisions. 'Quits' in this idiom means 'even' or 'square', i.e., the debt is cancelled.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, the idiom is almost exclusively 'double or nothing'. 'Double or quits' is predominantly British.
Connotations
Both convey identical risk. 'Double or quits' may sound slightly more old-fashioned or specifically British.
Frequency
'Double or nothing' is far more common in American English. 'Double or quits' is common in British English but less frequent than its American counterpart globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] offered to go double or quits on the bet.Let's play double or quits.It was a double or quits situation.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go for broke”
- “Bet the farm”
- “Put all your eggs in one basket”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally; metaphorically for high-risk investment or strategic decisions.
Academic
Virtually unused except in historical or sociological analyses of gambling.
Everyday
Used in casual conversations about games, bets, or personal decisions involving risk.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to go double or quits on the final hand.
American English
- He decided to go double or nothing on the final hand.
adverb
British English
- He played double or quits.
American English
- He played double or nothing.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic double-or-quits moment for the team.
American English
- It was a classic double-or-nothing moment for the team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I owe you five pounds. Let's play one more game, double or quits.
- The company's risky expansion strategy was a double or quits move that could save or bankrupt them.
- Facing political ruin, the minister adopted a double-or-quits approach, staking everything on a single public debate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a QUIT button that, if you press it after a DOUBLE bet, makes your debt QUIT (disappear). Double, or be quits.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL DEBT IS A BURDEN / GAMBLING IS WAR (a final, decisive battle to clear the debt).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'quits' as 'уйти' (to leave). The correct conceptual translation is 'удвоить или простить' (double or forgive). The direct phrase 'двойной или ничего' is a calque from American English, not the British idiom.
Common Mistakes
- Saying 'double or quit' (singular).
- Using it as a verb without 'go' or 'play' (e.g., 'He double-or-quits').
- Confusing 'quits' with 'quit' meaning to stop.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'double or quits' the standard form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It means to be 'even' or 'square', with no debt or obligation remaining. It comes from the 17th-century sense of 'quits' meaning released from a liability.
No, it is an informal idiom. In formal contexts, use phrases like 'a high-risk gamble' or 'an all-or-nothing strategy'.
Yes, 'double or nothing' is the American English equivalent of the British 'double or quits'. They are identical in meaning.
No. While it originates from gambling, it is commonly used as a metaphor for any high-risk, high-reward decision in business, sports, or personal life.