parlay

[Bailey]

par·lay (pärl, -l)
tr.v. par·layed, par·lay·ing, par·lays
1. To bet (an original wager and its winnings) on a subsequent event.
2. To maneuver (an asset) to great advantage: parlayed some small investments into a large fortune.
n.
A bet comprising the sum of a prior wager plus its winnings or a series of bets made in such a manner.



[Alteration of paroli, staking of double the sum staked before in faro, from French, from obsolete Italian, probably from Italian parare, to place a bet, from Latin parre, to prepare; see pare.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

mark parlaying-one-goodword-into-another-good-suggestion Bailey

[Slava]

Hard to believe that this one hasn't been taken up by the Dr. as yet. It has so many uses in contemporary speech.

He parlayed his winnings (went double-or-nothing) on the next deal and won big time.

Smedley parlayed his father's contacts into a comfy position in the Capitol.