beat the odds
To succeed despite being unlikely to do so.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He worked hard and beat the odds to win.”
“The small team had very little money, but they beat the odds to finish the project on time.”
“Despite the grim medical prognosis, the patient beat the odds and made a full recovery through sheer determination.”
- 01
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 02
beat a retreat
To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
- 03
beat around the bush
To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.
- 04
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 05
beat Banaghan
To tell wonderful stories, or something which is amazing and remarkable.
- 06
beat feet
To run.
- 07
beat it
To leave; to go away.
- 08
beat off
To masturbate by stimulating one's own penis.
Last updated August 10, 2026