odds are high

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "odds are high" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used when talking about the likelihood or probability of something happening. Example: The odds are high that it will rain tonight, so I'm bringing an umbrella with me. In this example, the speaker is expressing their belief that there is a high chance of rain occurring, and therefore they are taking precautions by bringing an umbrella.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The odds are high, whether Nigeria does well or not.

The New York Times - Sports

The odds are high that the excise tax will never actually happen.

The New York Times

Well, the odds are high that we'll end up very frustrated.

The New York Times

When we go looking for a pattern, odds are high that we'll find one.

The New York Times

To make matters worse, the odds are high and getting higher that a political solution on its own won't work.

The New York Times - Magazine

The odds are high the costly investment might turn into an implementation failure or even lead to bankruptcy.

Procedia Computer Science

He added, "We're all hoping for good news, but the odds are high that unemployment will remain above 8 percent".

The New York Times

If she were practicing in any other advanced nation, the odds are high that she would never have been sued.

The New York Times

But the odds are high that he has health problems, even if they're unacknowledged by Vatican spokesmen.

The New York Times

If a critical vulnerability could be solved with a quick fix, the odds are high it would already have been sorted.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It's like a national lottery: the odds of any particular individual winning are small, but if millions play, the odds are high that somebody will win something.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "odds are high" to express a strong degree of certainty or likelihood, but avoid overusing it in formal writing where more precise language may be preferred. Consider alternatives like "it is likely" for academic or business contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, avoid using "odds are high" in highly formal or academic papers. Opt for phrases like "the probability is significant" or "it is highly likely" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "odds are high" functions as a probability assessment, indicating a strong likelihood or expectation. It's used to express that something is very likely to occur, like in Ludwig examples where the odds are high that unemployment will remain above 8 percent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "odds are high" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a strong likelihood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "it is likely" for academic or professional writing. Be mindful that, despite its common use, more precise language may be preferred in formal contexts to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there's a high probability

More directly synonymous, replacing "odds" with "probability".

chances are good

Replaces "odds" with "chances" and "high" with "good", maintaining the same meaning.

there's a strong possibility

Emphasizes the existence of a strong possibility.

the likelihood is great

Rephrases using "likelihood" as a noun and "great" as an adjective.

it is likely

Uses a more formal tone and structure to express likelihood.

it's a safe bet

Similar to "it's a good bet" but emphasizes certainty.

it is probable

Employs a more formal synonym for "likely".

it's a good bet

Uses a more informal idiom to convey a high probability.

it is expected

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than pure probability.

one can anticipate

Introduces a sense of anticipation about an event.

FAQs

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

You can use "odds are high" to indicate a strong likelihood of something happening. For example, "The "odds are high" that it will rain tomorrow."

What's a more formal alternative to "odds are high"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it is likely" or "there is a high probability".

Is it grammatically correct to say "odds are high"?

Yes, "odds are high" is grammatically correct and widely used in both spoken and written English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Can I use "odds are high" in academic writing?

While understandable, "odds are high" might be too informal for strict academic writing. Consider using more precise and formal alternatives such as "it is highly probable" or "the likelihood is substantial".