- 1(also 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 Dictionary adjectiveconsiderable, great, impossible, … verb + oddsoffer, quote, lay, … odds + verbfall, go down, lengthen, … prepositionagainst the odds , odds against, odds of, … phrasesagainst all odds, against all the odds, face impossible odds, … See full entry
- 2something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve something They secured a victory in the face of overwhelming odds. Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveconsiderable, great, impossible, … verb + oddsoffer, quote, lay, … odds + verbfall, go down, lengthen, … prepositionagainst the odds , odds against, odds of, … phrasesagainst all odds, against all the odds, face impossible odds, … See full entry
- 3(in betting) the connection between two numbers that shows how much money somebody will receive if they win a bet 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) 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). Wordfindergamblingbet, casino, chip, croupier, gambling, lottery, odds, roulette, stake, streak Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveconsiderable, great, impossible, … verb + oddsoffer, quote, lay, … odds + verbfall, go down, lengthen, … prepositionagainst the odds , odds against, odds of, … phrasesagainst all odds, against all the odds, face impossible odds, … See full entry Word Originearly 16th cent.: apparently the plural of the obsolete noun odd ‘odd number or odd person’.Extra examples 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?Idioms
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.
to disagree with somebody about something He's always at odds with his father over politics.
you are unlikely to succeed because the conditions are not good for you
you are likely to succeed because the conditions are good and you have an advantage
(informal, especially British English) used to say that something is not important It makes no odds to me whether you go or stay.
(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.
Check pronunciation: odds
