go the whole pile

verb

To stake all of one's money on a single outcome.

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Meanings

verbgo the whole pile (third-person singular simple present goes the whole pile, present participle going the whole pile, simple past went the whole pile, past participle gone the whole pile)

present singular third person goes the whole pile · participle present going the whole pile · past went the whole pile · participle past gone the whole pile

  1. datedslangTo stake all of one's money on a single outcome.

    You may bet your bottom dollar on it; go the whole pile and go in and win; you hear me!

    1884, W. Jarman, U.S.A., Uncle Sam's Abscess, page 27
    1 more example

    "I go the whole pile on the Jack," said Colonel Bull, drawing the chips from other cards upon which they had been distributed.

    1848, The Southern Literary Messenger, volume 14, page 446

Origin

In allusion to the piles of gold dust used as currency by gambling miners in America.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

go the whole pile. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20the%20whole%20pile

MLA

“go the whole pile.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20the%20whole%20pile. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go the whole pile,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20the%20whole%20pile.

Source: go the whole pile on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.