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Miriam
Dollars to doughnuts
I came across this expression in the TV series Blacklist and found it quite interesting. It's an American expression used to emphasise one's certainty. Here you can find an interesting article explaining the origin of this phrase: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/06/origin-phrase-dollars-donuts/. It also states that there were similar expressions like "dollars to dimes", "dollars to dumplings", "dollars to cobwebs" and "dollars to buttons" but apparently "dollars to doughnuts" is the one that caught on.

If I were to translate this phrase to German I'd either say "Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen" (You can take poison on that) or "Das ist so sicher wie das Amen in der Kirche" (It's as certain as the amen in church).

Are you using "dollars to doughnuts" or a different expression to express your absolute certainty in English? Are there similarly colourful expressions in your native or target languages, that you'd use to translate phrase?

Comments · 11

4
It's authentic and we really use it.

Not that a 1945 movie musical is a reliable guide, but here's an example:

"Our state fair is a great state fair, don't miss it, don't even be late!
It's dollars to doughnuts that our state fair is the best state fair in our state!

3
I don't know why you were down-voted by someone (when I wanted to upvote you, you were on -1).

This is a good phrase to learn to spice your sentences up. I wouldn't say it's that common (especially among younger people) but I do hear it from older people more often --- at least in the state that I come from.

It's similar to the idiom "bet my bottom dollar" Which I'm almost certain you can use on its own. I think I've heard more people say it too (even younger people)
3
I like donuts!
3
@Dan, DavidK and John thanks!

John, "rags to riches" in German is "vom Tellerwäscher zum Milliomär" (from dishwasher to millionaire). I didn't know the English expression for that. Thanks!
3
I’d say it’s fairly common but I wouldn’t use it. It’s something you’d say if you were shooting for “folksy”.

Also, it’s not a stand alone statement. “Dollars to doughnuts that...” “Dollars to doughnuts that they get married someday.” (I think it’s very likely that ...)

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