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Dollars to Doughnuts....

andmewithoutmytowel
I thought this sub might enjoy this. I was talking with a younger colleague and used the expression "Dollars to doughnuts" and he had no idea what I was talking about. Granted it's an older expression, but "Dollars to doughnuts" means "I'm so confident I'm correct, that I'll make a wager with you; if I'm wrong, I'll pay you in dollars, but if I'm right, you only have to pay me back in doughnuts" It comes from when doughnuts were only $0.05-$0.10 each, so it's like saying "I'd give you 20:1 odds that I'm right." ex: If a co-worker was habitually late, and they promised to be on time the next day, you might say "I'd bet you, dollars to doughnuts, that they won't be on time tomorrow" It's more of a rhetorical device than an actual wager, and with prices these days, it's lost a lot of its meaning. Hope you enjoy, let me know if you want more obsolete expressions!

14 comments

EldritchPenguin123•
Now it's more like donuts to dollars
ubiquitous-joe•
That expression is the bees knees! But anyone who uses it will a no spring chicken…
losvedir•
Ha, my mom says this all the time. I never noticed that the cost of donuts has risen so much that it doesn't make sense anymore. I can't wait until the next time she says this, lol!
Anonymous•
[deleted]
boopiejones•
I’d never heard it until one of my counterparts in Texas used the term about 10 years ago. I wonder if it’s a regional thing.
SnooDonuts6494•
We have a related expression in BrEn: "pound to a penny". = I am so confident that I'm right, I will wager ÂŁ1 against your ÂŁ0.01. For example, "I'll bet you, a pound to a penny, that he'll miss this shot" (playing snooker/pool). It's not a very common idiom, but it's reasonably familiar. I hadn't heard of "Dollars to Doughnuts" before your post, so thank you for broadening my knowledge. It certainly has a nice **ring** to it, fnaar fnaar.
Limp_Desk9845•
This is something new, thanks for this OP !
pixel_pete•
I love this expression because it's both silly and alliterative!
Mental-Frosting-316•
Maybe if they’re the mini “donettes” that are like 12 for $2.50.
TravelerMSY•
Nowadays, it should be reversed and be donuts to dollars, considering a donut is $2 or more.
nub0987654•
Imagine it had the same use as "rags to riches" lol
Strongdar•
I'm only familiar with the expression because Agent Doggett used it frequently on X-files.
brychu123•
It's common in Poland, dolary przeciwko orzechom "dollars against nuts"
anabsentfriend•
I have no idea what you're going on about.