odds
Preserved but no longer current.
A phrase equivalent to "consequence;" "what’s the ODDS?" i.e., what is the expected result? "It’s no ODDS," i.e., of no consequence. ODDS, in sporting phraseology, refers to the proportions or differences of a bet. One bookmaker will lay ODDS of "six to one" against such a horse winning; whilst another, more speculative, or in the receipt of a first-rate "tip" (information about the horse in question) will lay "eight," or even "ten to one."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “odds” mean?
A phrase equivalent to "consequence;" "what’s the ODDS?" i.e., what is the expected result? "It’s no ODDS," i.e., of no consequence. ODDS, in sporting phraseology, refers to the proportions or differences of a bet. One bookmaker will lay ODDS of "six to one" against such a horse winning; whilst another, more speculative, or in the receipt of a first-rate "tip" (information about the horse in question) will lay "eight," or even "ten to one."
Is “odds” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.