He ____ his bets, and didn’t fully commit

verb

1. To enclose or protect with or as if with a dense row of shrubs or low trees to enclose or protect with or as if with a hedge see hedge encircle

   "homes hedged with boxwoods"

2. To confine so as to prevent freedom of movement or action to obstruct with or as if with a barrier hinder

   "hedged about by special regulations and statutes"

3. To protect oneself from losing or failing by a counterbalancing action

   "hedge a bet"

4. To plant, form, or trim a hedge
5. To evade the risk of commitment especially by leaving open a way of retreat trim

   "hedged on the issue"

6. To buy or sell commodity futures see future as a protection against loss due to price fluctuation
7. To minimize the risk of a bet

phrasal verb

1. To protect oneself from (something)

   "They hedge against inflation by investing their money."

phrasal verb

1. To form a boundary around (something)

   "a field hedged in by trees"

2. To surround or restrict (someone) in a way that prevents free movement or action

   "We have been hedged in by their rules and regulations."