odds

odds
noun (plural)
1 PROBABILITY how likely it is that something will or will not happen, especially when this can be stated in numbers: If you are male, the odds are about 1 in 12 of being colour-blind. | the odds are (that) (=it is likely): Invest now - the odds are that the share prices will rise after the budget. | odds in favour of: The odds are in favour of a Russian victory. | odds against: The odds against you getting killed in a plane crash are around a million to one.
2 DIFFICULTIES
a) enormous/heavy odds difficulties which make a good result seem very unlikely: Theresa has overcome enormous odds to get where she is today.
b) against all (the) odds in spite of great difficulties: Against all the odds, racing driver Lauda recovered from his terrible injuries.
3 be at odds (with)
a) to disagree: Briggs found himself at odds with his colleagues at NASA.
b) if two statements, descriptions, actions etc are at odds with each other, they are different although they should be the same: Burt's latest evidence is at odds with his earlier statements.
4 HORSE RACING ETC numbers based on the probability of a horse winning a race, or a particular result in any competition, which show by how much you can increase your money if you bet 1 (1) on the one that wins: I bet -10 on Broadway Flyer with the odds at 6-1. | lay/offer (sb) odds: I laid him odds of 7-2. | long/short odds (=odds based on a high or low risk of losing)
5 it makes no odds/what's the odds? BrE spoken it makes no difference: You can pay me now or later - it makes no odds.
6 pay/charge over the odds BrE informal to pay or charge a higher price than is usual or reasonable: There's always somebody ready to pay over the odds for a designer jacket.
—see also: have the odds stacked against you stack 2 (3)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • odds — S3 [ɔdz US a:dz] n [plural] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(probability)¦ 2¦(difficulties)¦ 3 be at odds 4¦(horse racing etc)¦ 5 it makes no odds 6 pay over the odds ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(PROBABILITY)¦ the odds how lik …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • odds — [ɒdz ǁ ɑːdz] noun [plural] 1. the odds how likely it is that something will happen: • The odds of us achieving our sales targets are very poor. • The odds are (= it is likely that ) selling will continue. 2. difficulties that make a good result… …   Financial and business terms

  • Odds — stellen in der Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie und Statistik eine Möglichkeit dar, Wahrscheinlichkeiten anzugeben. Beispielsweise spricht man von einer 1:1 Chance, dass bei einem Münzwurf Kopf erscheint. Mathematisch berechnen sich Odds als Quotienten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Odds — ([o^]dz), n. sing. & pl. [See {Odd}, a.] 1. Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. The odds are often… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • odds — [ adz ] noun plural ** 1. ) the chances of something happening: the odds of doing something: The odds of getting hit by a falling satellite are very small. (the) odds are (that) (=it is likely that): The odds are they won t succeed. the odds are… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • odds — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) the ratio between the amounts staked by the parties to a bet, based on the expected probability either way. 2) (the odds) the chances of something happening or being the case. 3) (the odds) the balance of advantage; superiority… …   English terms dictionary

  • odds — [ädz] pl.n. [sometimes, esp. formerly, with sing. v.] 1. Archaic inequalities 2. Now Rare difference or amount of difference 3. difference in favor of one side over the other; advantage 4. an equalizing advantage given or received in betting,… …   English World dictionary

  • odds-on — UK US adjective ► thought most likely to happen, succeed, or do a particular thing: odds on to do sth »He is odds on to serve another term as president of the Commission. odds on for sth »Next month looks odds on for a further rise in interest… …   Financial and business terms

  • odds-on — adj 1.) odds on favourite the person, horse etc that is most likely to win a race or other competition 2.) BrE informal very likely it s odds on (that) ▪ It s odds on that she won t come. be odds on to do sth ▪ They must have felt they were odds… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • odds-on — adjective INFORMAL very likely: it is odds on (that): It s odds on that Gerry will miss the meeting again. be odds on to do something: Pearson is odds on to play his last game on Saturday. the odds on favorite the person or animal that people… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Odds On —   First edition cover Author(s) …   Wikipedia

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