Bet your bottom dollar


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Bet your bottom dollar'?

Bet your last coin.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Bet your bottom dollar'?

Unsurprisingly, this in an American phrase. First cited in the La Crosse Independent Republican, September 1856:

“I’m goin’ to vote for you [James Polk] – you can bet your bottom dollar on that!”

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.