odds
noun /ɒdz/
/ɑːdz/
[plural]Idioms - (usually the odds)the degree to which something is likely to happen
- The odds are very much in our favour (= we are likely to succeed).
- The odds are heavily against him (= he is not likely to succeed).
- The odds are that (= it is likely that) she'll win.
- What are the odds (= how likely is it) he won't turn up?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- impossible
- …
- offer
- quote
- lay
- …
- fall
- go down
- lengthen
- …
- against the odds
- odds against
- odds of
- …
- against all odds
- against all the odds
- face impossible odds
- …
- They secured a victory in the face of overwhelming odds.
- She defied the odds to beat the clear favourite.
- to beat/overcome the odds
- against the odds The film is a heart-warming tale of triumph against the odds.
- Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery.
- odds against (doing) something The odds against making a profit in this business are huge.
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failurec1- He will try hard to win, although he knows the odds are stacked against him.
- She struggled against terrible odds to overcome her illness.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- impossible
- …
- offer
- quote
- lay
- …
- fall
- go down
- lengthen
- …
- against the odds
- odds against
- odds of
- …
- against all odds
- against all the odds
- face impossible odds
- …
- odds of ten to one (= ten times the amount of money that has been bet by somebody will be paid to them if they win)
- odds on somebody/something They are offering long/short odds (= the prize money will be high/low because there is a high/low risk of losing) on the defending champion.
- (figurative) I'll lay odds on him getting the job (= I'm sure he will get it).
Wordfinder- bet
- casino
- chip
- croupier
- gambling
- lottery
- odds
- roulette
- stake
- streak
Extra Examples- The bookmakers are offering only short odds on the favourite.
- Sometimes an outsider will win at long odds, but not often.
- The odds on the outsider were 100–1.
- I put £10 on Middlesbrough to beat Manchester at odds of three to one.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- impossible
- …
- offer
- quote
- lay
- …
- fall
- go down
- lengthen
- …
- against the odds
- odds against
- odds of
- …
- against all odds
- against all the odds
- face impossible odds
- …
Word Originearly 16th cent.: apparently the plural of the obsolete noun odd ‘odd number or odd person’.
Idioms
be at odds (with somebody) (over/on something)
- to disagree with somebody about something
- He's always at odds with his father over politics.
be at odds (with something)
- to be different from something, when the two things should be the same synonym conflict
- These findings are at odds with what is going on in the rest of the country.
the cards/odds are stacked against you
- you are unlikely to succeed because the conditions are not good for youTopics Difficulty and failurec2
the cards/odds are stacked in your favour
- you are likely to succeed because the conditions are good and you have an advantageTopics Successc2
it makes no odds
- (informal, especially British English) used to say that something is not important
- It makes no odds to me whether you go or stay.
over the odds
- (British English, informal) more money than you would normally expect
- Many collectors are willing to pay over the odds for early examples of his work.