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3. against the odds

against the odds

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against the odds

Despite being very likely to fail. Against the odds, he was able to survive being stranded in the wilderness for a week with no food.

See also: odds

against the odds

also against all odds

despite many difficulties The team battled against the odds and won the championship in the final weekend. He should be famous given what he accomplished against the odds.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of odds (the likelihood of success expressed as a comparison of two numbers)

See also: odds

against (all) the odds

  also against all odds

if you do or achieve something against all the odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed Against all the odds, she conceived her first child at the age of 56. He struggled against the odds to keep his business going during the recession.

See also: odds