AT ODDS • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of At odds

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/æt ɑdz/ Listen

noun

Odds n.

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 "Preeminent by so much odds." "The fearful odds of that unequal fray." "The odds Is that we scarce are men and you are gods." "There appeared, at least, four to one odds against them." "All the odds between them has been the different scope... given to their understandings to range in." "Judging is balancing an account and determining on which side the odds lie."

Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; chiefly in the phrase at odds. "Set them into confounding odds." "I can not speak Any beginning to this peevish odds."

At odds, in dispute; at variance. "These squires at odds did fall." "He flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds."

It is odds, it is probable; same as odds are, but no longer used. (Obs.)

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."

slim odds low odds; poor chances; as, there are slim odds he will win any medal.

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Etymology of 'At odds'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"At odds" Quotes from Famous Books

... was a young man, small-featured, black-haired, smooth-shaven, and with an air of nattiness and fashion, set at odds at present by a very pale and anxious face and eager, dilated black eyes. He cut short Justin's greeting ...

— McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908 • Various

... practical, and one may ignore it; but it suggests the many who would earnestly wish to settle our long war with a swift, conclusive fight, yet who feel it no longer practical. Keeping to the practical issue, we must bear in mind a few things. Though Ireland has often fought at odds, and could do so again, it is not just now a question of Ireland poorly equipped standing up to England invincible. England will never again have such an easy battle. The point now to emphasise is this—by ...

— Principles of Freedom • Terence J. MacSwiney

... in a strange, hurried sort of way, "the moon, you will perceive, is very nearly at the full to-night." And his voice, immediately, struck me as being at odds with his clothes. ...

— The Broad Highway • Jeffery Farnol

... never faith be found in fellow kings: Dominion cannot suffer partnership. This need[s] no foreign proof nor far-fet[587] story: Rome's infant walls were steep'd in brother's blood; Nor then was land or sea, to breed such hate; A town with one poor church set them at odds.[588] Caesar's and Pompey's jarring love soon ended, 'Twas peace against their wills; betwixt them both Stepp'd Crassus in. Even as the slender isthmos, 100 Betwixt the AEgaean,[589] and the Ionian sea, Keeps each from other, but being worn away, They both burst ...

— The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 3 (of 3) • Christopher Marlowe

... the privilege of the Christian to blame either the Almighty or the devil for whatever ills are brought on him by his own blind, reckless challenging of the Inevitable—termed Fate and Destiny by classical Paganism,—so I found myself at odds with One I had been taught ...

— The Dop Doctor • Clotilde Inez Mary Graves

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