you pays your money and you takes your chances

proverb

There is no guarantee that you will get the result you want.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative you pays your nickel and you takes your chances

  1. There is no guarantee that you will get the result you want.

Origin

Probably from you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

you pays your money and you takes your chances. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20chances

MLA

“you pays your money and you takes your chances.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20chances. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “you pays your money and you takes your chances,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20chances.

Source: you pays your money and you takes your chances on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.