odds
/ɒdz
/plural noun
1The ratio between the amounts staked by the parties to a bet, based on the expected probability either way: Nicer is starting at odds of 8-1 it is possible for the race to be won at very long odds...
- At odds of 16-1, and with White displaying splendid form throughout the first five days of action, it began to look like very prescient gambling.
- Use of the Whipple Bumper is expected to reduce the odds of a collision to one in ten.
- As illustrated by the odds ratios, the odds of rearrest for traditionally adjudicated offenders are two times those of drug court participants.
1.1 (usually the odds) The chances or likelihood of something happening or being the case: the odds are that he is no longer alive the odds against this ever happening are high...
- In another, the odds against chance were calculated to be 10 11 to 1.
- If this does not happen the odds are that the Mountmellick TD could be on his way out of Leinster House.
- And when that happened the odds are that we would lose both the building and the local provision of services.
Synonyms
likelihood, probability, chances, chance, balance
1.2 (usually the odds) The balance of advantage; superiority in strength, power, or resources: she clung to the lead against all the odds the odds were overwhelmingly in favour of the banks rather than the customer...
- He chose Duan Qirui, who thus, on 24 November 1924, came back to power against all the odds.
- Fair play to them both, they took on what was a mountainous challenge and now against all the odds have emerged victorious.
- Against all the odds Keble extended their lead to 17-3 and, despite a mini-revival from Brasenose they held on to this advantage at half time.
Synonyms
advantage, lead, edge, superiority, supremacy, ascendancy
Phrases
at odds
by all odds
it makes no odds
lay (or give) odds
over the odds
take odds
what's the odds?
Origin
Early 16th century: apparently the plural of the obsolete noun odd 'odd number or odd person'.