# beat the odds

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beat-the-odds
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To succeed despite being unlikely to do so.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.