Word of The Day
GAMBIT
A gambit is a strategic move or opening action in which something is deliberately risked or sacrificed in order to gain an advantage later. The term is commonly used in chess, but it also applies to conversations, negotiations, business decisions, and everyday life.
š Definitions
a clever action in a game or other situation that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk
(in chess) an opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of aĀ pawn, for the sake of aĀ compensatingĀ advantage.
āļø Example Sentence
- āStarting the meeting with an unexpected question was a clever gambit to capture everyoneās attention.ā
- ā The Detectiveās Gambit of pretending to be a Potential suspect helped him solve the caseā.
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āhis resignation was a tactical gambitā
Origin and History
āchess opening in which a pawn or piece is risked for advantage later,ā 1650s,Ā gambett, from ItalianĀ gambetto, literally āa tripping upā (as a trick in wrestling), fromĀ gambaĀ āleg,ā from Late LatinĀ gambaĀ āhorseās hock or legā (seeĀ gambolĀ (n.)).
Applied to chess openings in Spanish in 1561 by Ruy Lopez, who traced it to the Italian word, but the form in Spanish generally wasĀ gambito, which led to FrenchĀ gambit, which has influenced the English spelling of the word. The broader sense of āopening move meant to gain advantageā in English is recorded from 1855.
š± Why We Love This Word
GambitĀ captures the balance between risk and strategy. It reminds us that thoughtful risksāwhen taken intentionallyācan open doors to opportunity, creativity, and growth. The word is both intellectually rich and highly versatile, making it useful across many contexts.
š¬ Membersā Thoughts:
What does gambit mean to you?
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Have you ever taken a calculated risk that paid off?
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Where have you seen this word usedāin books, games, or real life?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Your perspective may be featured in a future Vocabulary Tuesdays post.
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