odds
1 n-plural You refer to how likely something is to happen as the odds that it will happen.
usu the N
What are the odds of finding a parking space right outside the door?..., The odds are that you are going to fail.
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odds-on
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 If someone is at odds with someone else, or if two people are at odds, they are disagreeing or quarrelling with each other.
at odds phrase usu v-link PHR, oft PHR with n
He was at odds with his Prime Minister..., An adviser said there was no reason why the two countries should remain at odds.
4 If you say that the odds are against something or someone, you mean that they are unlikely to succeed.
odds are against phrase V inflects, PHR n
He reckoned the odds are against the scheme going ahead...
5 If something happens against all odds, it happens or succeeds although it seemed impossible or very unlikely.
against all odds phrase PHR with cl
Some women do manage to achieve business success against all odds...
6 If you say that the odds are in someone's favour, you mean that they are likely to succeed in what they are doing.
the odds are in sb's favour phrase V inflects
His troops will only engage in a ground battle when all the odds are in their favour.
7 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.
to shorten the odds/lengthen the odds phrase V inflects His reception there shortened the odds that he might be the next Tory leader.
odds and ends
You can refer to a disorganized group of things of various kinds as odds and ends.
INFORMAL n-plural
(=bits and pieces)
She put in some clothes, odds and ends, and make-up...
odds-on , odds on
If there is an odds-on chance that something will happen, it is very likely that it will happen.
INFORMAL adj
Gerald was no longer the odds-on favourite to win the contest..., It was odds-on that there was no killer.