odds and ends

plural noun

1

a

: miscellaneous articles

b

: miscellaneous small matters (as of business) to be attended to

2

: miscellaneous remnants or leftovers

odds and ends of food

Synonyms

• etceteras
• notion
• novelties
• sundries

Examples of odds and ends in a Sentence

she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs

almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends

Recent Examples on the Web

But reusing old clothes and other odds and ends in your home keeps excess stuff out of the waste stream. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Oct. 2024

Hobby Items And Decor Craft supplies, holiday decor, photos, or other similar odds and ends do not belong in the laundry room, either. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024

Such odds and ends of deviant behavior don’t add up to a coherent personality, much less an ideology that could help tip the film into genuine provocation. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024

Many reviewers raved about the large, deep drawers that provide ample storage for hiding odds and ends. —Taniya Pierce, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

odds and ends

plural noun

: miscellaneous articles, leftovers, or things to do