odds

odds — noun

1. the strength of the chance that a particular event takes place rather than fails

1.nounC1
Definition

the strength of the chance that a particular event takes place rather than fails to — looked at as a measurable amount.

Example

The odds of finding a parking space near the stadium on game day are very low.

the odds of + -ing for measurable chance

Doctors said the odds that Mia would walk again after the accident were one in twenty.

the odds that + clause

Common collocations
  • the odds of winning
  • the odds are against
  • improve the odds
  • long odds
  • short odds
  • the odds are stacked against
Synonyms
  • chances

    everyday equivalent; 'chances' is more neutral and works for both good and bad possibilities

  • likelihood

    more formal; usually singular ('the likelihood of rain'); no betting flavour

  • probability

    technical or scientific register; often expressed as a percentage

Antonyms
  • certainty

    the opposite endpoint: no doubt at all about the outcome

Grammar Patterns

the odds of + noun/-ing

the odds that + clause

the odds are + adjective

Usage Note

Always plural in form, but takes either a singular or a plural verb depending on whether the writer treats the chance as one quantity ('the odds is short') or as a set of possibilities ('the odds are long'). The plural verb is far more common in modern English.

Common Mistakes

There is one odd of winning the prize.
The odds of winning the prize are tiny.
'odds' has no singular form in this meaning; you cannot count individual 'odds'.
The odds for him to pass the exam are low.
The odds of him passing the exam are low.
use 'of + -ing' or a 'that'-clause, not 'for + to-infinitive'.

2. in betting, a pair of numbers showing how much money you will get back compared

2.nounC1
Definition

in betting, a pair of numbers showing how much money you will get back compared with what you risked, used to describe how likely the bookmaker thinks an outcome is.

Example

The bookmaker offered odds of five to one on the grey horse winning the Derby.

offer odds of X to Y on + outcome

Lina placed twenty pounds on Brazil at odds of seven to two.

place a bet at odds of X to Y

Common collocations
  • odds of five to one
  • long odds
  • short odds
  • even odds
  • lay odds
  • the odds shortened
  • favourite at odds of
Synonyms
  • price

    British betting slang: 'a price of 5-1' means the same as 'odds of 5-1'

  • line

    American sports-betting term, especially for point spreads

Grammar Patterns

odds of X to Y

at odds of X-Y

give/offer odds of

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always involves an explicit pair of numbers (5-1, 7/2, 100 to 1) that translate into payout. Sense 1 just talks about how likely something is, with no payout implied. Subject is usually a bookmaker, a betting site, or the bet itself.

Common Mistakes

The horse has odds of 30 percent.
The horse has odds of seven to two.
betting odds are written as a ratio of two numbers, never as a single percentage.
Idioms

against (all) the odds

idiom

succeeding in something even though everything seemed to make success very unlikely.

Against all the odds, the small village team beat the city champions in the final.

Diagnosed at six months, baby Hana learned to walk by her second birthday against the odds.

at odds (with someone/something)

idiom

in disagreement or conflict with another person, or not matching another fact or statement.

The mayor is at odds with the city council over the new bus route.

His version of the evening is at odds with what three witnesses told the police.

odds and ends

idiom

small things of various kinds, usually not very valuable, that have been left over or kept together.

Grandma keeps buttons, coins, and other odds and ends in an old biscuit tin.

After the yard sale, only a few odds and ends were left on the table.

the odds are stacked against (someone)

idiom

the conditions make it very hard for a person or group to succeed.

With no funding and no contacts, the odds were stacked against the young filmmakers.

The odds are stacked against any tenant fighting a big landlord in court.

it makes no odds

idiom

informal British expression meaning that something does not matter or will not change anything.

Tea or coffee, it makes no odds to me — whatever's quicker.

It makes no odds whether we leave at six or seven; the train is always late.

over the odds

idiom

more money than is reasonable or than you would normally need to pay for something.

Tourists often pay over the odds for bottled water near the famous beach.

Carlos refused to pay over the odds for a second-hand bike with a rusty chain.

be at odds (with somebody) (over/on something)

idiom

To have a disagreement with someone about a particular topic.

Mia is at odds with her brother over the family vacation plans.

Were you at odds with your boss on the project deadline?

be at odds (with something)

idiom

To be inconsistent or in conflict with something that should match.

His story is at odds with the security camera footage.

The company's actions are at odds with its environmental promises.

the cards/odds are stacked against you

idiom

You are in a situation where success is very unlikely because conditions are unfavorable.

The odds are stacked against the small team winning the championship.

With no funding and little experience, the cards are stacked against her startup.

the cards/odds are stacked in your favour

idiom

You are in a situation where success is very likely because conditions are favorable.

With his skills and support, the odds are stacked in his favour.

The cards are stacked in your favour if you prepare well for the exam.

Word family

  • odds-on
    adjective
  • odds-maker
    noun
  • long-odds
    adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe how likely something is, but they sit in different registers and structures. 'Chances' is the most everyday choice and accepts both 'good' and 'slim' easily, as in 'her chances of getting in are slim'. 'Odds' carries a faint betting flavour even outside gambling; speakers reach for it when the outcome feels uncertain or risky, as in 'the odds of finding survivors are low'. 'Likelihood' is more formal and usually singular, preferring abstract subjects: 'there is a strong likelihood of rain'. 'Probability' is the most technical, often used with an actual number: 'the probability is 0.35'. In short: chats and stories use 'chances'; risky or dramatic contexts use 'odds'; reports and essays use 'likelihood'; maths and science use 'probability'.

odds ↗chanceslikelihood ↗probability ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • odds of winning
  • odds of survival
  • betting odds
  • odds-on favourite
  • odds ratio

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the odds are against
  • the odds are in your favour
  • improve the odds
  • even the odds
  • beat the odds
  • long odds
  • short odds
  • the odds shortened
  • the odds lengthened

Prepositions

  • of (winning/losing)
  • against
  • on (a horse/team)
  • at (odds of X to Y)

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEarly Modern EnglishModern English

The noun 'odds' grew out of the older adjective 'odd', which entered English from Old Norse 'oddi' meaning 'point of land' or 'triangle' — and, by extension, the third or extra item that could not be paired up. From the late 1500s, 'odds' (always plural) was used for the difference or imbalance between two things, especially the imbalance of advantage between two competitors. From this came both the modern senses: the general 'chance that something will happen' and the gambling 'ratio of payout to stake', where the bookmaker's numbers literally measure how unbalanced the contest is thought to be.