roll the bones

roll the bones

1. slang To roll dice, as for or in a game of chance. I'm usually not much of a gambler, but I couldn't resist heading to the craps table to roll the bones!
2. By extension, to take some risk on the hope or chance of a fortunate outcome. Look, worst case scenario is that we get hit with a fine, so I say we just roll the bones and hope it doesn't come to that.
See also: bone, roll
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

roll the bones

Cast dice, especially in the game of craps, as in Let's go to the casino and roll the bones tonight. This slangy term was first recorded in 1897, but the noun bones has referred to dice since the late 1300s (Chaucer used it in The Pardoner's Tale).
See also: bone, roll
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

roll the bones

Games
To cast dice, especially in craps.
See also: bone, roll
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • roll the dice
  • the baby needs shoes
  • (the) baby needs (new) shoes
  • baby needs a new pair of shoes
  • daddy needs (new) shoes
  • daddy needs a new pair of shoes
  • mama needs (new) shoes!
  • mama needs a new pair of shoes
  • roll on...!
  • let's roll