At odds
the probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else:
the odds are that it will rain today.
the ratio of probability that something is so, will occur, or is more likely to occur than something else.
this ratio used as the basis of a bet; the ratio by which the bet of one party to a wager exceeds that of the other, granted by one of two betting opponents to equalize the chances favoring one of them:
the odds are two-to-one that it won’t rain today.
an equalizing allowance, as that given the weaker person or team in a contest; handicap.
an advantage or degree of superiority on the side of two contending parties; a difference favoring one of two contestants.
an amount or degree by which one thing is better or worse than another.
at odds, at variance; in disagreement:
they were usually at odds over political issues.
by all odds, in every respect; by far; undoubtedly:
she is by all odds the brightest child in the family.
also, by long odds, by odds.
plural noun
foll by on or against. the probability, expressed as a ratio, that a certain event will take place: the odds against the outsider are a hundred to one
the amount, expressed as a ratio, by which the wager of one better is greater than that of another: he was offering odds of five to one
the likelihood that a certain state of affairs will be found to be so: the odds are that he is drunk
the chances or likelihood of success in a certain undertaking: their odds were very poor after it rained
an equalizing allowance, esp one given to a weaker side in a contest
the advantage that one contender is judged to have over another: the odds are on my team
(brit) a significant difference (esp in the phrase it makes no odds)
at odds
on bad terms
appearing not to correspond or match: the silvery hair was at odds with her youthful shape
give odds, lay odds, to offer a bet with favourable odds
take odds, to accept such a bet
over the odds
more than is expected, necessary, etc: he got two pounds over the odds for this job
unfair or excessive
(brit, informal) what’s the odds?, what difference does it make?
n.
in wagering sense, found first in shakespeare (“2 henry iv,” 1597), probably from earlier sense of “amount by which one thing exceeds or falls short of another” (1540s), from odd (q.v.), though the sense evolution is uncertain. until 19c. treated as a singular, though obviously a plural (cf. news).
in disagreement, opposed. for example, it is only natural for the young and old to be at odds over money matters. this idiom uses odds in the sense of “a condition of being unequal or different,” and transfers it to a difference of opinion, or quarrel. [ late 1500s ]
odds and ends
odds are, the
also see:
against all odds
at odds
by all odds
lay odds
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