[beckett]

Dawkins definitely got the idiom wrong. It is not "want a bet" but "do you want to bet," abbreviated in slang as "wanna bet."

A bet cannot be given away, as the question "want a bet?" implies. Betting is a collusive act, and the preposition "to" must precede the infinitive verb "bet" for the phrase to have meaning.

[Elsie]

Wanna bet that THIS:

"Ya wanna take a chance on an Indian blanket?"

can have more than ONE meaning?

[Frumanchu]

yeah. what you said ;)