What does the phrase "dollars to donuts" mean?

wdwfla

I'm so confident of my assertion, I'll bet DOLLARS which are measurably valuable TO your DONUTS which are worth much much less, in fact, shaped like zero's, and still feel that the long odds I have given are justified. DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS (or donuts) - "The almost forgotten terms 'dollars-to-buttons' and 'dollars-to-dumplings' appeared in the 1880s, meaning 'almost certain' and usually used in 'I'll bet you dollars-to-buttons/dumplings.' They were replaced by 1890 with the more popular 'dollars-to-doughnuts' (a 1904 variation, 'dollars-to-cobwebs,' never became very common, perhaps because it didn't alliterate)." From "Listening to America" by Stuart Berg Flexner (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1982). May 30 06, 8:48 AM

Banty

If you say that something will happen, dollars to donuts, you mean you are sure it will happen. Dollars to donuts the company is going to fold. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts she won't come to the party. Hope you are satisfied with the answer. May 30 06, 12:15 PM

MyAlias

One is wagering something of great value against something of relatively no value as an assertion of assuredness concerning their point of belief. May 30 06, 1:07 PM