odds

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

n. the amount of money you can win in a bet compared to the amount you risk.

n. the ratio of the potential winnings to the stake in a gambling context.

“The bookies have offered odds of ten-to-one on the local team winning.”

“Professional gamblers rarely place bets unless the odds offered by the bookmaker significantly undervalue the actual probability of the outcome.”

C1 · Advanced Plural noun Formal

n. to be in a state of disagreement or conflict with someone.

n. a state of being in conflict, variance, or disagreement; almost exclusively used in the idiom 'at odds with'.

“The two brothers were often at odds with each other over how to run the family business.”

“The director's vision for the film was fundamentally at odds with the studio's requirement for a family-friendly rating.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

n. to succeed even though it seemed impossible or very unlikely.

n. referring to a situation where success is achieved despite very low probability or significant obstacles.

“Against all odds, the small boat survived the storm and reached the shore.”

“The startup managed to secure a second round of funding against the odds, despite the general downturn in tech investment.”