poor odds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor odds" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when describing a situation where the chances of something happening are not good or favorable. Example: Despite the team's hard work, their lack of experience and injuries put them at poor odds for winning the championship.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Faced with poor odds, women often refrain from applying for funding.

Nature

Despite the poor odds, low-income households in rural Thailand spend significant amounts on tickets of the Thai Government Lottery.

Harvard University

But some critics have also written, saying the Stansels should not have continued the pregnancy knowing the poor odds.

The New York Times

An inhabitant of Turkmenistan has a 41% chance of dying early; other former Soviet states offer similarly poor odds.

The Economist

He added that hundreds of them give unusually poor odds, fix games or do not pay gamblers what they are owed.

The New York Times

Powerful lobbies, beginning with the National Rifle Association, will fight every legislative provision; some of these provisions, like a proposed ban on assault weapons, appear to have poor odds of passage by this Congress.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But will a course like this, more broadly deployed, be useful to the many other postdocs with less flashy resumes and poorer odds of becoming faculty members running labs of their own?

Science Magazine

For taxpayers seeking the earned-income credit, which benefits the working poor, the odds of an audit last year were about 1 in 47, based on the number who sought the credit in 2000, not 1 in 315.

The New York Times

In short, because of how poor the odds are of getting a new roll, these pieces of armor are almost purely cosmetic unless you get very, very lucky on the roll you want.

Forbes

And we are unwaveringly compelled to root for her, no matter how poor her odds.

Huffington Post

Despite the poor numerical odds, Nauendorf sallied out to engage Wunsch's men.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor odds", consider the context and choose synonyms like "slim chance" or "unfavorable prospects" for variety and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "poor odds" when the outcome is guaranteed or virtually certain. This phrase is best suited for situations with a significant degree of uncertainty, where the chances of success are genuinely low, not nonexistent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor odds" functions as a noun phrase, where 'poor' modifies 'odds'. It describes a situation characterized by unfavorable chances or a low probability of success. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from funding applications to political campaigns.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor odds" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe situations with a low probability of success. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While synonyms like "slim chance" and "unfavorable prospects" can add variety, it's crucial to avoid using "poor odds" when the outcome is certain. The phrase is widely found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, solidifying its place in standard English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim chance

Implies a very small possibility of success.

long shot

Suggests a low probability of success, often in a competition or gamble.

unfavorable prospects

Highlights the negative outlook or potential outcomes.

bleak outlook

Emphasizes the lack of positive expectations.

low probability

A more formal way to express a small chance of occurring.

remote possibility

Indicates a distant or unlikely chance.

dim prospects

Similar to "unfavorable prospects", but slightly less formal.

meager likelihood

Emphasizes the small amount of chance or possibility.

bad bet

Suggests that attempting something is likely to fail.

uphill battle

Implies a difficult struggle against unfavorable conditions.

FAQs

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

You can use "poor odds" to describe situations where success is unlikely. For example, "Despite the team's effort, they faced "poor odds" of winning the championship."

What's a more formal alternative to "poor odds"?

A more formal alternative to "poor odds" is "unfavorable prospects" or "low probability", which are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "poorer odds" instead of "poor odds"?

While grammatically acceptable, "poorer odds" implies a comparison to previously worse odds. "Poor odds" simply describes the unfavorable situation without comparison.

What's the difference between "poor odds" and "long shot"?

"Poor odds" generally describes a low chance of success, while "long shot" often refers to a gamble or competition with a very low probability of winning but a potentially high reward.