No, I didn’t run across this word confusion parlay vs parley in a book. It popped up in the news, and I got curious. There’s a reason my zodiac sign is Leo, lol.
To parlay is to make a small stake into a greater one. It’s all a gamble whether it’s through betting or making yourself into someone greater.
To parley is to talk with an opposing side.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Parlay | Parley |
|---|---|
Poker at a Casino Table is Antoine Taveneaux‘s own work is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — With luck, one of the players will parlay his original stake into a bigger one. |
The Parley by Frederic Remington was photographed by Paul Cooper and is under the CC BY-NC 2.0 license, via Flickr. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun; Verb, transitive
Plural for the noun: parlays Third person present verb: parlays |
Noun; Verb, intransitive
Plural for the noun: parleys Third person present verb: parleys |
| Noun: A cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet Verb, transitive:
Informal] To use (one’s money, talent, or other assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success [Gamble; British] Double up |
Noun: A conference between opposing sides in a dispute, especially a discussion of terms for an armistice Discussion Verb, intransitive: Confer |
| Examples: | |
| Noun: “Our final addition to our Bengals vs Chiefs parlay is the Over of 48 points” (Trettenero). “Same-game parlay plus: Combine your SGP with legs from other games” (Catena). “The sportsbook gives you the chance to wrap all of those into one bet called a parlay” (Hoffman). Verb, transitive: He claimed to be a banker who parlayed a sizable inheritance into a financial empire. She parlayed a modest inheritance into a fortune. It was an excellent performance he quickly parlayed into lucrative contracts. |
Noun: A parley is in progress and the invaders may withdraw. They held a parley to debate the proposed change in the town’s zoning laws. Can we meet for an informal parley to see if we can effect a compromise? Verb, intransitive: The government refused to parley with the rebels. In an effort to win the goodwill of the locals, the developers parleyed with them before finalizing plans for the massive mall. |
| History of the Word: | |
| Early 19th century, from the French paroli, from the Italian, plural of parolo, probably from paro meaning I prepare, first person singular of parare meaning prepare, from the Latin parare (prepare) + lo (it). | Late Middle English, denoting speech or debate, perhaps from the Old French parlee meaning spoken, feminine past participle of the verb parler. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Parlay versus Parley
Apple Dictionary.com
Catena Media. “Ohio FanDuel Promo Code: Get $200 win or lose on NFL Championship Sunday or NBA Saturday.” al. 28 Jan 2023. Web. 1 Feb 2023. <https://www.al.com/betting/2023/01/ohio-fanduel-promo-code-get-200-win-or-lose-on-nfl-championship-sunday-or-nba-saturday.html>.
Dictionary.com: parlay
The Free Dictionary: parlay
Hoffman, Jason. “Wanna Bet? Here’s a Beginner’s Guide to Sports Betting Ahead of Bengals vs. Ravens Sunday.” The Enquirer. Cinncinnati.com. 12 Jan 2023. Web. 1 Feb 2023. <https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/sportsbetting/2023/01/13/ohio-football-betting-basics-cincinnati-bengals-baltimore-ravens-game/69799842007/>.
Merriam-Webster: parlay, parley
Trettenero, Brady. “Bengals vs. Chiefs Props & Same-game Parlay.” Sports Betting Dime. cleveland. 28 Jan 2023. Web. 1 Feb 2023. <https://www.cleveland.com/betting/2023/01/bengals-vs-chiefs-props-same-game-parlay.html>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
MUNY Auditions, 2012, Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, New York City, by Rob Wilson is courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York and is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.
