# long odds

idiom

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

## Meaning

poor chances; unlikeliness, improbability

## Examples

- Winning the lottery is a game with long odds.
- She applied for the job despite the long odds against her getting hired.
- The startup faced long odds of success, yet the founders remained committed to their vision despite the overwhelming market competition.

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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.