bet the ranch

To risk everything on a venture that one thinks will be successful. Primarily heard in US. I wouldn't bet the ranch on that wacky invention. He's broke now because he bet the ranch on a failed business venture. If you're looking for a PC that won't let you down, then you can bet the ranch on this one.

meanwhile, back at the ranch

A humorous phrase used as a segue to talk about what is happening where someone lives or works. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're having so much landscaping work done that the whole area feels like a construction zone!

raisin ranch

slang A retirement center or community. A slightly derogatory term equating the wrinkles of an older person with those of a raisin. My kids want to put me in a raisin ranch now that my wife died, but I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself! I would just feel so guilty dropping my mother off in some raisin ranch where we'll only spend time with her a few times a year.

bet the ranch

mainly AMERICAN

If you bet the ranch, you take a big risk in doing something, sometimes spending all your money to do it. I wasn't going to bet the ranch on the stocks. It was a brave policy pushed through despite warnings that it would be a disaster. He bet the ranch and he won.

meanwhile, back at the ranch

People say meanwhile, back at the ranch when they want to talk about something that is happening in another place, especially their home or place of work. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Condon was trying to write an article. Note: This expression comes from Western movies, in which the action regularly moves from a ranch (= large farm with animals) to some other place.

bet the ˈfarm/ˈranch

(American English) risk everything that you have on something: It might succeed but don’t bet the farm on it. ♢ It’s a bet-the-farm situation.

raisin ranch

n. a retirement community; an old folks home. (Refers to wrinkles.) You won’t get me into one of those raisin ranches. I like my independence.

ranch

1. n. semen. (Alludes to Ranch [salad] dressing. Objectionable if understood.) God! There’s ranch on the bathroom floor!

2. in. to ejaculate. (Objectionable if understood.) Just looking at her makes me want to ranch.

meanwhile, back at the ranch

As we were saying before. This formula for a verbal flashback comes from the silent Western movies popular in the 1920s, and also the radio program The Lone Ranger. During the course of a battle between settlers and Indians or cowboys and outlaws, there would be a flashback to the ranch preceded by the caption (or radio message), “Meanwhile, back at the ranch.” It soon was transferred to general conversation. During Lyndon Johnson’s presidency (1963–69), according to William Safire, the phrase was used to refer to activities at the LBJ Ranch in Texas.