roll the dice

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

an idiom meaning to take a chance on an uncertain outcome, accepting that the result will be determined by factors partly beyond one's control, derived from the literal act of casting dice in gambling and board games; to roll the dice is to commit to an irreversible action whose outcome is probabilistic, requiring a tolerance for uncertainty and an acceptance that both fortunate and unfortunate outcomes are possible; the phrase is used in business decision-making, personal choices, and political strategy to describe actions where the decision-maker has done what preparation is possible but must ultimately accept that they cannot fully control the result; it carries a slightly reckless connotation compared with more calculated risk idioms, suggesting an embrace of uncertainty rather than a grudging acceptance of it