And what does it mean?
2006-08-19 23:23:22 · 5 answers · asked by michchick98 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS (or donuts) - "The almost forgotten terms 'dollars-to-buttons' and 'dollars-to-dumplings' appeared in the 1880s, meaning 'almost certain' and usually used in 'I'll bet you dollars-to-buttons/dumplings.' They were replaced by 1890 with the more popular 'dollars-to-doughnuts' (a 1904 variation, 'dollars-to-cobwebs,' never became very common, perhaps because it didn't alliterate)." From "Listening to America" by Stuart Berg Flexner (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1982).
2006-08-19 23:31:16 · answer #1 · answered by jennifersuem 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"I'd bet the Don for the Donuts": During WWII when Germany was making it's first retreat in the East they retreated to the Don River from the Donuts River. Germany noted that Russia had very predicable battle tactics and if Germany retreated, Russia would resume their predictable tactics and Germany would once again overtake the Russians. Well that didn't happen. Russia changed it's tactics and the tide of WWII changed.
When using the saying "I'd bet the Don(dollar) for the Donuts" it means if everything stays the same you will win the bet and know that if they change, you will loose the bet.
2014-07-06 05:47:26 · answer #2 · answered by Joseph Madden 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dollars For Donuts
2016-12-29 14:37:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normally, when you're betting somebody that a certain even will or won't occur, you bet roughly the same amount in the same currency. However, in the case of "dollars to donuts", you are so absolutely sure of an outcome in your favour (i.e. you won't lose and have to pay up) that you're willing to bet far more excessively than your opponent. Your opponent hopes he'll win but knows there's a reasonable chance he'll lose, so he bets small or insignificantly (1 donut). But you are dead sure you're going to win, i.e. you know you're not going to lose, so it doesn't matter what you bet (hundreds of dollars, thousands of dollars, whatever) coz you won't have to pay it.
2006-08-20 06:06:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dollars To Doughnuts
2016-11-02 11:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Comes from Springfield. Homer Simpson said that.
What does it mean? He prefers donuts to dollars.
;p (i m joking)
2006-08-20 00:09:54 · answer #6 · answered by Jendralus 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sombody that didn't want to loose thier badge
2006-08-19 23:29:28 · answer #7 · answered by martinmm 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋