English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

Resolutions and vows, like promises or pledges, can be made, kept or broken.
If you 
go back on your word, you break a promise.
Language
 
help
Swear
can mean either to make a solemn promise or to use taboo language.
Bets
To 
bet (a bet) is to risk something, usually money, on the unknown result of something, in the hope 
of winning more money; people spend (and lose) a lot of money 
betting on horse racing or football 
matches, for example. Putting money on the results of a game of some kind is called 
gambling. 
The amount of money that you risk is your 
stake. You can stake a sum of money on something 
happening. If something is 
at stake, then it is at risk: Many lives will be at stake if the flood barrier is 
not built. A more formal word for 
bet is wager: She put a wager of £10 on a horse. Both words can be 
used in a non-literal sense: I’d 
wager that he will come to a bad end.
There are a number of informal expressions connected with betting.
Your best bet would be to look for a part-time job. 
[the best decision or choice]
You think Stuart’ll win? 
Don’t bet on it! 
[I think what you’ve just said is unlikely to happen]
My granny enjoys 
having a flutter on the horses. 
[having a small bet]
I’d 
put (good) money / bet my life on James getting the job. 
[I’m sure that James will get the job]
Do you feel like coming to the beach with us? 
You bet! 
[I certainly do!]
You can also 
hedge your bets by investing in several companies. 
[protect yourself from the results of 
making a single wrong choice]
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