odds

How likely something is to happen.

• The odds are good.
• She survived against all the odds.
• What are the odds of meeting him here?

How to use it: odds of doing something (What are the odds of finding a taxi here?); odds are that… (The odds are that we will arrive late.)

Similar words: chances, likelihood, probability

Common phrases: against the odds, improve the odds, odds of success

Numbers showing how much money you can win compared with the amount you bet.

• Check the odds before betting.
• They offered better odds on the second horse.
• He won at odds of twenty to one.

How to use it: odds of X to Y (The bookmaker offered odds of five to one.); at odds of X to Y (She backed the horse at odds of ten to one.)

Similar words: betting prices

Common phrases: betting odds, short odds, long odds

An advantage given to a weaker player to make a game more equal.

• She gave me rook odds.
• Even with knight odds, I lost the game.
• They agreed on pawn odds before starting.

How to use it: give someone odds (The stronger player gave me odds by removing a rook.)

Similar words: handicap, advantage

Common phrases: knight odds, rook odds, give odds