I. ˈgambə̇t, ˈgaam-, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (probably influenced by French gambit, from Spanish gambito, modification of Italian gambetto ) of earlier gambet, gambett, from Italian gambetto gambit, act of tripping someone, from gamba leg
1. : a chess opening in which a player voluntarily risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position
2.
a.
(1) : a remark or comment designed to launch a conversation or to make a telling point : sally
“I decided to see you myself”, was his opening gambit — Newsweek
opened … with the gambit of inquiring whether present conditions were satisfactory — Jeremy Potter
this was her usual opening gambit with the young — Elizabeth Goudge
he could not, if he had pondered conversational gambits for an hour, have hit on a more successful one — C.D.Lewis
(2) : topic
to smoke or not to smoke still flourishes as a useful conversational gambit — Saturday Review
three other popular conversational gambits — Harold Strauss
b.
(1) : a calculated move, maneuver, or device
employs the classic melodramatic gambit of the innocent who walks straight into somebody else's intrigue — Time
worked up a neat legislative gambit to further their interests — New Republic
threw up its hands and retired to think up a new gambit — Richard Thruelsen
(2) : a tactical maneuver in which an airplane awaiting favorable opportunity to attack keeps out of sight of a submarine periscope
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to make a gambit