slim odds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slim odds" is correct and commonly used in written English
It means that the chances of something happening are very small. Some examples of when you can use "slim odds" are: 1. Despite the team's hard work, their chances of winning the championship were slim odds. 2. The weather forecast predicted a slim odds of rain, so we went ahead with our outdoor picnic. 3. The young entrepreneur knew that the success of his startup was slim odds, but he was determined to keep pushing forward. 4. After placing a bet on the underdog, Joe knew that his chances of winning were slim odds, but he took the risk anyway. 5. The doctor gave the patient a bleak prognosis, saying that the chances of survival were slim odds.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Still, they face slim odds of establishing a nation.

The New York Times

Slim odds on anyone adopting an old pit bull.

The New York Times

Pretty slim odds when, by "making it," you mean simply surviving.

The New Yorker

Patients can end up sacrificing their comfort, their independence and their dignity, pursuing brutal treatments with slim odds of ever being well.

The Guardian

You're just supposed to feel for him because he's struggling to survive on a desolate planet, with slim odds of returning to Earth.

The Washington Post

The slim odds also have large implications for the United States health care bill, adding billions of dollars annually to Medicare spending and to insurance payments.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

For a potentially life-saving cancer drug, a patient might grasp at even much slimmer odds.

The New York Times

TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson is William Hill's 12-1 outsider, at slightly slimmer odds than Coral's 14-1 for dancer Wayne Sleep.

The Guardian

However slim his odds of success, Mr. Schumer framed the confirmation battle as a referendum on the issues most important to Democratic voters, notably health care.

The New York Times

The chances of having a birthday on a leap day are extremely slim - the odds are one in 1,461 to be exact - and there's quite an eclectic mix of famous people born on the day.

The Telegraph

However slim the odds are for his own survival, he says, they actually are in his favor because of his access to top-notch medical care, his relative youth and his overall fitness.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like "face", "overcome", "confront" or "despite" to create a narrative of struggle or realism.

Common error

Avoid using redundant modifiers like "very small "slim odds"" as "slim" already implies the smallness. Additionally, never use the singular article "a" directly before it (e.g. "a "slim odds"" is incorrect) because "odds" is plural; instead, say "the "slim odds"" or "a "slim chance"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slim odds" functions as a noun phrase where "slim" acts as an attributive adjective modifying the plural noun "odds". According to Ludwig, it is a stable collocation used to quantify probability in a skeptical or realistic light. It often appears as the object of a preposition (e.g. "with "slim odds"") or the direct object of verbs like "face".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "slim odds" is a robust and widely accepted phrase in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms that it is most frequently utilized in journalistic and academic contexts to describe a low probability of success. It is a more evocative alternative to "low probability" and more formal than a "long shot". When using this phrase, remember that "odds" is plural and typically refers to the likelihood of an event occurring. It remains a high-quality choice for writers who wish to convey realism or skepticism regarding a particular outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thin odds

A less common variation using a different physical descriptor

low probability

More clinical and mathematical in tone

slender chance

Uses a more literary or elegant synonym for slim

long shot

Uses a more idiomatic and informal metaphor from racing or sports

minimal likelihood

Higher formality level suitable for technical or scientific reports

remote possibility

Emphasizes the distance from likelihood rather than the numerical odds

outside chance

Often used in sports or competitions to mean a small but real possibility

unlikely prospect

Focuses on the potential future event as a whole rather than just the probability

faint hope

Adds an emotional connotation or an element of desire to the low probability

poor prospects

Shifts the focus to the quality of the expected outcome

FAQs

How do I use "slim odds" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a difficult situation, such as: "Despite the "slim odds" of survival, the team continued their rescue mission."

What is the difference between "slim odds" and a "long shot"?

"Slim odds" is a neutral description of probability, while a "long shot" is an idiom that often implies a more dramatic or risky attempt at success.

Is it better to say "small odds" or "slim odds"?

While "small odds" is understood, "slim odds" is a much more common and natural-sounding collocation in English.

Can "slim odds" be used in formal business writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts. If you need something even more technical, you might consider "low probability" or "minimal likelihood".