The Collaborative International Dictionary
Odds \Odds\ ([o^]dz), n. sing. & pl. [See Odd, a.]
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Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. The odds are often expressed by a ratio; as, the odds are three to one that he will win, i. e. he will win three times out of four ``Pre["e]minent by so much odds.''
--Milton. ``The fearful odds of that unequal fray.''
--Trench.The odds Is that we scarce are men and you are gods.
--Shak.There appeared, at least, four to one odds against them.
--Swift.All the odds between them has been the different scope . . . given to their understandings to range in.
--Locke.Judging is balancing an account and determining on which side the odds lie.
--Locke. -
Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; -- chiefly in the phrase at odds.
Set them into confounding odds.
--Shak.I can not speak Any beginning to this peevish odds.
--Shak.At odds, in dispute; at variance. ``These squires at odds did fall.''
--Spenser. ``He flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds.''
--Shak.It is odds, it is probable; same as odds are, but no longer used. [Obs.]
--Jer. Taylor.odds are it is probable; as, odds are he will win the gold medal.
Odds and ends, that which is left; remnants; fragments; refuse; scraps; miscellaneous articles. ``My brain is filled . . . with all kinds of odds and ends.''
--W. Irving.slim odds low odds; poor chances; as, there are slim odds he will win any medal.
Usage examples of "slim odds".
It was a bold project for poor wolflings to engage in, especially when Sa'ent and Kloornap bookies gave Earthclan slim odds of surviving more than another century or two.
Raven held out the thin chance that by bringing in Catherine the others might get sympathy -slim odds to be sure, but Stone Calf's band was hard up for hope.