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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

At odds

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

In disagreement with someone, or in conflict with something.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. The team is at odds over how to spend the remaining budget.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.

The team is ________ over how to spend the remaining budget.
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At odds — In disagreement with someone, or in conflict with something.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “At odds” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

In disagreement with someone, or in conflict with something.

Compare: The team is at odds over how to spend the remaining budget.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it when people disagree about a decision or when two accounts do not match. It suits conversation and professional writing.

More examples in context

  • My notes are at odds with the figures in the report.
  • We were at odds about the route, so we checked the map together.

Usage note

Use at odds with a person or thing, and at odds over or about an issue. Odds stays plural.

A short conversation

A: Have you agreed on a venue?
B: No, we are at odds over the size of the hall.
A: Let us check how many guests are coming.

One more practice question

If two reports are at odds, what is true?

A. They give conflicting information.
B. They agree on every detail.

Check your answer

A. At odds means the accounts conflict rather than match.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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