noun

Calcutta

kal-KUH-tuh

noun

A betting pool in which participants bid to "own" a competitor or team in an event, then split the winnings if their pick does well.

"The golf club ran a calcutta before the weekend tournament, with members bidding on players."

"He won big in the calcutta after buying the eventual champion for almost nothing."

How to Use Calcutta

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn auction-style betting pool where people bid to back a specific competitor, common at golf tournaments and horse races.

Common mistake

Lower-case "calcutta" (the betting pool) is a completely different thing from "Calcutta" the city — capitalize the city, not the wager.

Common pairings

run a calcutta calcutta pool bid in the calcutta

calcuttas plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The golf club ran a _____ before the weekend tournament, with members bidding on players.

Named after Calcutta (now Kolkata), India's former capital, where this style of auction-pool betting is said to have become popular.

outta Dutta