Akademik

odds

odds 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 seem very unlikely:

• The small company overcameenormous odds to become a success.

• Successful entrepreneurs have a will to succeed against all odds (= even when there are great difficulties ) .

3. be at odds (with somebody) if two people or groups are at odds, they disagree about something or they often disagree about things:

• The head cook and head porter are constantly at odds.

4. be at odds (with something) if two statements, descriptions, actions etc are at odds with each other, they are different although they should be the same:

• Sometimes trade union negotiators set targets which are at odds with the targets set by management.

5. pay/charge over the odds COMMERCE informal to pay or charge a higher price than is usual or reasonable:

• Are supermarket customers paying over the odds for fruit and vegetables?

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odds UK US /ɒdz/ noun [plural]

► the odds of something happening are how probable it is that it will happen: the odds are against sth »At the moment it seems the odds are against a deal.
the odds are on sth/in sth's favour »They are so evenly matched, the odds are on a draw.
the odds are good/strong »The odds are good that the country's transformation will proceed smoothly.
good/better odds »People retiring today have better odds than ever of living a long healthy life.
the odds are slim/long »Given the poor economic climate, the odds of success are slim.

► how probable something is, expressed as a pair of numbers or a percentage, for example when betting : good/bad odds »We think 6 to 2 are good odds.
the odds are ... against/in favour of sth »The odds are 100-1 against him getting the job.
the odds of sth happening »For taxpayers with incomes above $100,000 the odds of being audited in 2006 were 1 in 59.

● be at odds (with sb/sth) — Cf. be at odds with sth

● against the odds/against all odds — Cf. against the odds/against all odds

● the odds are against sb/in sb's favour — Cf. the odds are sb's favour

● over the odds — Cf. over the odds

Financial and business terms. 2012.