face challenging odds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face challenging odds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone is confronted with difficulties or obstacles that are difficult to overcome. Example: "Despite the fact that they were facing challenging odds, the team remained determined to win the championship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to face challenging odds.

Huffington Post

Democrats still face challenging odds in southeastern Wisconsin's 1st District, which encompasses the cities of Kenosha and Racine, along with more rural areas and Ryan's hometown of Janesville.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They will face challenging times in their careers.

Huffington Post

Face challenging or turbulent times head on.

WikiHow

Two top-five teams — No. 2 Boston College and No. 4 Arizona State — have yet to hit the challenging portions of their schedule and face long odds of going undefeated.

The New York Times - Sports

We face huge odds.

The Guardian

Mr. Townsend will also face difficult odds.

The New York Times

But the protesters face long odds.

The New York Times

Employment experts say the workers face long odds.

The New York Times

But many of the students face great odds.

The New York Times

Still, they face slim odds of establishing a nation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "face challenging odds", ensure the context clearly defines what those challenges are and why they are considered difficult to overcome.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid using "face challenging odds" in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler expressions like "having a hard time" or "dealing with difficulties" for better flow and tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face challenging odds" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of confronting or dealing with difficult circumstances. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is primarily used in news and media to describe situations where individuals or groups are dealing with adversity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "face challenging odds" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe confronting difficult circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts, primarily within news and media. While not overly common, it's considered appropriate for conveying the existence of significant hurdles that need to be overcome. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "encounter difficult circumstances" or "confront tough obstacles", adjusting based on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter difficult circumstances

Replaces "face" with "encounter" and "challenging odds" with "difficult circumstances", altering the specific wording while maintaining the overall meaning.

confront tough obstacles

Substitutes "face" with "confront" and uses "tough obstacles" instead of "challenging odds", providing a slightly different emphasis on the nature of the difficulties.

deal with adversity

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general expression of handling difficult situations, focusing on resilience.

grapple with significant hurdles

Emphasizes the struggle involved by using "grapple" and highlights the barriers as "significant hurdles".

be up against considerable challenges

Uses a more descriptive and emphatic tone, highlighting the substantial nature of the challenges.

meet with substantial difficulties

Focuses on the experience of encountering difficulties, using the word "meet" and emphasizing their substantial impact.

navigate a complex landscape

Employs a metaphorical expression, suggesting a challenging and intricate situation to overcome.

contend with unfavorable conditions

Highlights the external environment as being difficult, emphasizing the adverse circumstances.

tackle demanding tasks

Shifts the focus to the tasks themselves being challenging, rather than the overall odds.

brave a series of trials

Presents the situation as a sequence of tests or difficulties that require courage to overcome.

FAQs

How can I use "face challenging odds" in a sentence?

You can use "face challenging odds" to describe a situation where someone is dealing with difficult circumstances. For example: "Despite facing challenging odds, the team remained determined to win the championship."

What are some alternatives to "face challenging odds"?

You can use alternatives like "encounter difficult circumstances", "confront tough obstacles", or "deal with adversity depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "faced challenging odds"?

Yes, "faced challenging odds" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct when describing a past event. For example: "The company faced challenging odds during the recession."

What's the difference between "face challenging odds" and "overcome challenging odds"?

"Face challenging odds" means to confront a difficult situation, while "overcome challenging odds" implies successfully navigating and resolving the difficult situation. You "face challenging odds" before you can "overcome challenging odds".