high odds

USAGE SUMMARY

"high odds" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is very likely to happen or something that has a good chance of success. For example: "I'm willing to take on this venture despite the high odds of failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As for Mr. Huckabee, he faced high odds in his own right.

The New York Times

Against high odds, he wrote, he spied Ms. Head and her mother on the East Side last Sept. 14.

The New York Times

But a few genes are perfect storms of bad news: high odds of developing a horrible condition that you can do nothing about.

The New York Times - Magazine

With preposterously high odds against me, I was going to play a challenge game of what is commonly known as Ping-Pong.

The New York Times

It gave high odds (essentially a two out of three chance) that Lyme disease and West Nile virus would have expanded ranges because of warming.

The New York Times

It gave high odds (essentially a two out of three chance) that Lyme disease and West Nile virus would likely have expanded ranges due to warming.

The New York Times

There are a lot of if-then statements here, and I would not assign high odds to Mr. Perry making a comeback — much less actually winning the nomination.

The New York Times

"I wouldn't give the first Dragon landing on Mars high odds — I mean, maybe 50percentt.

TechCrunch

Irrepressibly high hopes against stimulatingly high odds are, after all, the eccentric's stock-in-trade.

Forbes

The characteristics of calcification, mixed colour flow pattern and markedly hypoechoic echo texture (Fig. 2) all have high odds ratios on the logistic regression (multivariable) analysis.

Insights into Imaging

Results of multinomial regression analysis suggest benign breast disease patients are at higher risk of developing breast cancer with high odds ratio of lipid damage.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "high odds", ensure the context clearly indicates what the odds are in favor of or against. Be specific about the event or outcome being considered.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "high odds" automatically translate to a guaranteed outcome. While it suggests a strong likelihood, external factors and unforeseen circumstances can still influence the result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "high odds" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates it's correct and usable. It quantifies the likelihood of an event or outcome, indicating a strong probability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "high odds" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a strong probability or likelihood of an event, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is versatile, fitting into both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news reporting and scientific discourse. While "high odds" implies a significant chance, it does not guarantee an outcome, and users should specify what the odds pertain to. Alternatives such as "good chance" or "strong probability" can be used to vary expression, with the latter being more suitable for technical contexts. Remember to use "high odds" accurately, and be aware that its meaning can differ in betting scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strong probability

Emphasizes the mathematical aspect of likelihood.

good chance

A more informal way of expressing a high probability.

likely outcome

Focuses on the expected result with a high degree of certainty.

favorable prospects

Highlights the positive outlook or potential for success.

promising outlook

Similar to favorable prospects, suggesting a positive future.

distinct possibility

Indicates that something is clearly and realistically possible.

substantial likelihood

Emphasizes the significant level of probability.

realistic possibility

Focuses on the feasibility and achievability of something.

odds on favorite

Specifically used in betting contexts to indicate the most likely winner.

increased likelihood

Highlights that the chance of something occurring has grown.

FAQs

How can I use "high odds" in a sentence?

You can use "high odds" to describe a situation where success or a particular outcome is very likely. For example: "There are "high odds" that the project will be completed on time."

What can I say instead of "high odds"?

You can use alternatives like "good chance", "strong probability", or "likely outcome" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "high odds" or "high probability"?

Both "high odds" and "high probability" are correct, but "high probability" is more formal and often used in scientific or statistical contexts, while "high odds" can be used more broadly.

What does it mean when something has "high odds" in betting?

In betting, "high odds" typically means that the event is considered unlikely to happen, and therefore the payout will be higher if you bet on it and win. However, in general conversation, ""high odds"" suggests a high likelihood of something occurring.