odds
the probability (= how likely it is) that a particular thing will or will not happen
If you drive a car all your life, the odds are that you'll have an accident at some point.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
odds
noun
the odds used for saying how likely something is:
The odds are that he'll win (= he'll probably win).
The odds are against us (= we will probably not succeed).
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
odds
odds S3 AC /ɒdz $ ɑːdz/ BrE AmE noun [plural]
1. PROBABILITYthe odds how likely it is that something will or will not happen:
The odds are (=it is likely) that he will commit the same crime again.
the odds of
You can narrow the odds of a nasty accident happening in your home by being more safety-conscious.
the odds against
The odds against a plane crash are around a million to one.
I’m afraid that the odds are heavily against her winning (=it is not likely).
What are the odds (=how likely is it) that they will mess up?
a new company that has beaten the odds and succeeded (=it was not likely to succeed, but it did)
2. DIFFICULTIES difficulties which make a good result seem very unlikely:
The hospital’s director has been battling against the odds to improve patient care.
The soldiers’ job was to hold on despite impossible odds.
3. be at odds
a) to disagree
be at odds with
Briggs found himself at odds with his colleagues.
be at odds over/on
The two politicians were at odds over what was the truth.
b) if two statements, descriptions, actions etc are at odds with each other, they are different although they should be the same
be at odds with
Mark’s account of what happened is at odds with Dan’s.
She gave him a sweet smile, totally at odds with the look of dislike in her eyes.
4. HORSE RACING ETC the numbers that show how much money you will win if you ↑bet on the winner of a horse race or other competition:
The odds are 6–1.
odds of
At odds of 10–1 he bet a hundred pounds.
(at) long/short odds (=high or low numbers, that show a high or low risk of losing)
Everyone was surprised when Desert Zone won the race, at very long odds.
lay/offer (somebody) odds British English:
They are laying odds of 8–1 that the Conservatives will win the next election.
5. it makes no odds British English spoken used to say that what someone does or what happens is not important:
Pay me now or later – it makes no odds.
6. pay over the odds British English informal to pay a higher price than is usual or reasonable:
Most residents live in tiny apartments and pay over the odds for them too.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ enormous/considerable/incredible odds He survived a night in the cold water against incredible odds.
▪ great odds (=a lot of difficulties) We must hope that, despite great odds, we can achieve a peaceful settlement.
▪ impossible/overwhelming odds (=making success seem extremely unlikely) They face impossible odds simply trying to get an education. | They face overwhelming odds in their struggle to preserve the park.
■ verbs
▪ beat/overcome/defy the odds (=succeed despite great difficulties) The baby, born sixteen weeks too early, defied the odds and is celebrating her first birthday.
▪ battle/struggle against the odds (=work hard despite great difficulties) The Coastguard was battling against the odds to keep the oil spill from reaching the shore.
■ phrases
▪ against all odds (=despite something seeming very unlikely) Against all odds, he recovered from his illness.
▪ the odds are stacked against somebody (=there are a lot of difficulties that may prevent someone’s success) They may be able to build a life for themselves, but the odds are stacked against them.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
odds
odds AW [ɒdz] [ɑːdz] noun plural
1. (usually the odds) the degree to which sth 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?
2. something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve sth
• They secured a victory in the face of overwhelming odds.
• Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery.
3. (in betting) the connection between two numbers that shows how much money sb will receive if they win a bet
• odds of ten to one (= ten times the amount of money that has been bet by sb will be paid to them if they win)
• 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).
more at the cards/odds are stacked against youthe cards/odds are stacked in your favour at stacked
Idioms: at odds ▪ it makes no odds ▪ over the odds
Word Origin:
[odds] early 16th cent.: apparently the plural of the obsolete noun odd ‘odd number or odd person’.
Example Bank:
• He will try hard to win, although he knows the odds are stacked against him.
• I'll lay odds we never see him again.
• She defied the odds to beat the clear favourite.
• She struggled against terrible odds to overcome her illness.
• Sometimes an outsider will win at long odds, but not often.
• The bookmakers are offering only short odds on the favourite.
• The film is a heart-warming tale of triumph against the odds.
• The odds against making a profit in this business are huge.
• The odds against their survival have lengthened.
• The odds on the outsider were 100–1.
• They were offering odds of ten to one.
• Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery.
• I put £10 on Middlesbrough to beat Manchester at odds of three to one.
• The odds are heavily against him.
• The odds are that she'll win.
• The odds are very much in our favour.
• They are offering long/short odds on the defending champion.
• What are the odds he won't turn up?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
odds / ɒdz / / ɑːdz / noun [ plural ]
C1 the probability (= how likely it is) that a particular thing will or will not happen:
If you drive a car all your life, the odds are that you'll have an accident at some point.
There are heavy odds against people succeeding in such a bad economic climate.
What are the odds on him being (= do you think he will be) re-elected?
The odds are stacked against a woman succeeding (= it is not likely that a woman will succeed) in the business.
in gambling (= the activity of risking money guessing the result of something) , a probability expressed as a number:
The odds against my horse winning (= that it will not win) / on my horse winning (= that it will win) are a hundred to one.
The odds that the US entrant will win the race are ten to one.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
odds
[ɒ̱dz]
1) N-PLURAL: usu the N You refer to how likely something is to happen as the odds that it will happen.
→ See also odds-on
What are the odds of finding a parking space right outside the door?...
The odds are that you are going to fail.
Syn:
chances
2) N-PLURAL In betting, odds are expressions with numbers such as `10 to 1' and `7 to 2' that show how likely something is thought to be, for example how likely a particular horse is to lose or win a race.
Gavin Jones, who put ₤25 on Eugene, at odds of 50 to 1, has won ₤1,250.
3) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR with n If someone is at odds with someone else, or if two people are at odds, they are disagreeing or quarrelling with each other.
He was at odds with his Prime Minister...
An adviser said there was no reason why the two countries should remain at odds.
4) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you say that the odds are against something or someone, you mean that they are unlikely to succeed.
He reckoned the odds are against the scheme going ahead...
I'm sorry. I just feel as if the odds are stacked up against me.
5) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something happens against all odds, it happens or succeeds although it seemed impossible or very unlikely.
Some women do manage to achieve business success against all odds...
Finally, late in life and against considerable odds, she became a nun.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that the odds are in someone's favour, you mean that they are likely to succeed in what they are doing.
His troops will only engage in a ground battle when all the odds are in their favour.
7) PHR-ERG: V inflects To shorten the odds on something happening means to make it more likely to happen. To lengthen the odds means to make it less likely to happen. You can also say that the odds shorten or lengthen.
His reception there shortened the odds that he might be the next Tory leader.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
odds
odds /ˈɑːdz/ noun [plural]
1 : the possibility that something will happen : the chance that one thing will happen instead of a different thing
• She wanted to improve her odds [=chances] of winning.
• They believe that surgery may increase his odds of survival. [=may make it more likely that he will survive]
• There's a chance it could rain, but odds are that it'll be sunny tomorrow. [=it is more likely to be sunny than rainy tomorrow]
• The team has made some major improvements, but they still face long odds. [=they still are not likely to win]
- often used with the
• The odds are good that he'll survive. [=he is likely to survive]
• What are the odds of winning?
• What are the odds that they'll be there on time?
• Smoking increases the odds of getting lung cancer.
• The odds are in our favor. [=it is likely that we will succeed]
• She knew that the odds were against her. [=she knew that she was not likely to succeed]
• It could rain tomorrow, but the odds are against it. [=it probably will not rain]
• The odds are in favor of a major storm this weekend. [=a major storm is likely this weekend]
2 : conditions that make it difficult for something to happen
• They fought against great/heavy/impossible/overwhelming odds and won.
• He was able to do it, against all odds. [=even though it was very difficult and unlikely]
- often used with the
• They defied/overcame the odds.
• Despite/against the odds, she has survived breast cancer.
• I tried to beat the odds. [=to succeed even though I was not likely to succeed]
3 : two numbers that show how much a person can win by betting a certain amount of money
• I bet $1,000 at 4–1 odds. If the horse I bet on wins, I will walk away with $4,000.
• winning at odds of 6–1
at odds : not agreeing with each other : in a state of disagreement
• The parents and teachers are still at odds (about/over what to teach the students).
- often + with
• The two groups have long been at odds with each other.
• He was completely at odds [=he completely disagreed] with the way the problem was being handled.
• The results of the study are at odds with our previous findings.
make no odds Brit informal
- used to say that a choice is not important
• It makes no odds [=makes no difference] to me when we leave.
odds are in favor
- see 1favor
over the odds Brit informal : more than the usual or expected amount
• We had to pay over the odds to get good seats for the concert.
what's the odds? Brit informal
- used to say that something is not likely to have an effect or make a difference
• He'll do it anyway, so what's the odds [=what's the use] of telling him not to?
