long odds
noun
: a poor chance of winning
The team has made some major improvements, but they still face long odds.
Examples of long odds in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite the long odds, Moody and Leach wrote to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, requesting a commutation of Melissa’s sentence, or at least a stay.
—
Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Though the non-roster arms will face long odds to make the team, there are typically a couple of success stories that emerge each spring.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Daniels and the Commanders walked into the Lions’ den facing long odds against a high-scoring team that lost two games at Ford Field in 2024.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
As a result, literature is full of reminders that long odds can sometimes be surmounted—that David can defeat Goliath, that perseverance can pay off, and that action can lead to change.
—Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for long odds 
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Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Though the non-roster arms will face long odds to make the team, there are typically a couple of success stories that emerge each spring.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Daniels and the Commanders walked into the Lions’ den facing long odds against a high-scoring team that lost two games at Ford Field in 2024.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
As a result, literature is full of reminders that long odds can sometimes be surmounted—that David can defeat Goliath, that perseverance can pay off, and that action can lead to change.
—Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for long odds
Dictionary Entries Near long odds
Cite this Entry
“Long odds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20odds. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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