Meaning & use
gambit
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Meanings
nouncountable
A clever opening move or remark that aims to gain an advantage, often with some risk.
Grammar: Countable: an opening gambit, a risky gambit.
Patterns
- a gambit to do something
- an opening gambit
His opening gambit in the talks was to offer a small discount.
Moving the meeting to Friday was a clever gambit.
Her gambit paid off when the rival backed down.
nouncountablesporttechnical
A chess opening in which a player gives up a pawn or piece early to get a better position.
Grammar: A chess term, often named: the queen's gambit.
Patterns
- the queen's gambit
He played the queen's gambit in the first game.
A gambit can be dangerous if the opponent refuses it.
The grandmaster sacrificed a pawn as a gambit.
nouncountableinformal
A trick or ploy used to gain attention or favor.
Grammar: Often slightly negative when it suggests a calculated trick.
Patterns
- a publicity gambit
The sale was just a publicity gambit.
His joke was a gambit to make the room relax.
The sudden discount was a gambit to lure customers.
Word forms
| plural | gambits |
|---|
Common combinations
- opening gambit
- Her opening gambit was a compliment.
- risky gambit
- It was a risky gambit, but it worked.
- political gambit
- The speech was seen as a political gambit.
- queen's gambit
- The queen's gambit is a famous chess opening.
- desperate gambit
- The company's last gambit was to cut prices.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ploy
- Ploy suggests a clever trick, often slightly deceptive, while gambit suggests a bold, risky first step.
- maneuver
- Maneuver is a skilled move and does not imply a sacrifice or risk.
- tactic
- Tactic is a general plan of action, less dramatic than gambit.
- stratagem
- Stratagem is more formal and suggests a cunning plan.
Word family
- gambit declined phrase
- a chess term when the opponent refuses a sacrifice
- gambol verb
- to jump about playfully, a different word
- gamble verb
- to take a risk, related by idea
- gambler noun
- a person who takes risks with money
Commonly confused: gambit or gamble? gambit or gambol?
gambit vs gamble
A gamble is a risk with an uncertain result, while a gambit is a deliberate first move to gain advantage.
gambit vs gambol
Gambol means to skip playfully and has nothing to do with strategy.
Practice
His opening ___ in the negotiation was to offer a low price and then raise it.
Choose one answer.
An opening gambit is a first calculated move. A gamble is a risk generally, and gambol and garment are different words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gambit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.