hedge your bets

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to take action to reduce the risk of loss by supporting or investing in multiple alternatives simultaneously rather than committing entirely to a single option; originally from gambling and finance, where a hedge is a position taken to offset potential losses in another position, the phrase has extended into everyday usage to describe any strategy of maintaining multiple options or avoiding full commitment as a means of managing uncertainty; while hedging reduces downside risk, it also typically reduces upside potential, making it a trade-off rather than a costless precaution