odds
Listen:Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
odds/ɒdz/
▶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 in strength, power, or resources: she clung to the lead against all the odds.
– phrases
at odds in conflict or at variance.
it makes no odds informal, chiefly Brit. it does not matter. [from an earlier use of odds in the sense ‘difference in advantage or effect’.]
lay (or give) odds offer a bet with odds favourable to the other better.
over the odds Brit. (especially of a price) above what is generally considered acceptable.
take odds offer a bet with odds unfavourable to the other better.
at odds in conflict or at variance.
it makes no odds informal, chiefly Brit. it does not matter. [from an earlier use of odds in the sense ‘difference in advantage or effect’.]
lay (or give) odds offer a bet with odds favourable to the other better.
over the odds Brit. (especially of a price) above what is generally considered acceptable.
take odds offer a bet with odds unfavourable to the other better.
– origin C16: appar. the pl. of the obs. noun odd ‘odd number or odd person’.
'odds' also found in these Oxford entries:
against
- bar
- bookmaker
- ditty bag
- even money
- fixed odds
- heresy
- long
- mulligan
- odds and ends
- odds and sods
- odds-on
- price
- quote
- short
- shout
- starting price
- Tote
