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Gambit: meaning, definitions and examples

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gambit

 

[ ˈɡambɪt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

chess strategy

An opening in chess in which a player sacrifices material, typically a pawn, in order to achieve a resulting advantageous position.

Synonyms

maneuver, strategy, tactic

Examples of usage

  • He played the Queen's Gambit, sacrificing his pawn to gain control of the center of the board.
  • The Sicilian Gambit is a popular strategy among experienced chess players.
Context #2 | Noun

general usage

A device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage.

Synonyms

move, ploy, scheme

Examples of usage

  • His decision to confront the CEO directly was a risky gambit, but it paid off in the end.
  • The company's latest advertising campaign was a clever gambit to attract new customers.
Context #3 | Noun

fiction

A character in fiction, especially a film or television series, known for their cunning and strategic thinking.

Synonyms

character, figure, persona

Examples of usage

  • The character Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders is often regarded as a master of the gambit.
  • Loki from the Marvel Universe is known for his deceptive gambits.

Translations

Translations of the word "gambit" in other languages:

🇵🇹 estratagema

🇮🇳 चाल

🇩🇪 Schachzug

🇮🇩 langkah pembuka

🇺🇦 гамбіт

🇵🇱 gambit

🇯🇵 手筋 (tesuji)

🇫🇷 gambit

🇪🇸 gambito

🇹🇷 gambit

🇰🇷 초반 전략 (choban jeonlyag)

🇸🇦 مناورة (manawara)

🇨🇿 gambit

🇸🇰 gambit

🇨🇳 弃子 (qìzǐ)

🇸🇮 gambit

🇮🇸 gambit

🇰🇿 гамбит

🇬🇪 გამბიტი (gambiti)

🇦🇿 gambit

🇲🇽 gambito

Etymology

The word 'gambit' originated in the late 17th century from the Italian word 'gambetto', meaning 'to trip up' or 'to dangle'. It was first used in the context of chess to describe a strategic opening move involving sacrifice. Over time, 'gambit' has come to represent any risky or calculated move to gain an advantage, not just in chess but in various contexts including business and fiction.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,504, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.