THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Against all odds
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Despite serious difficulties and a very low apparent chance of success.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Against all odds, the small team finished the exhibition before the doors opened.
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 small team finished the exhibition before the doors opened.
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Against all odds — Despite serious difficulties and a very low apparent chance of success.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Against all odds” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
Despite serious difficulties and a very low apparent chance of success.
Compare: Against all odds, the small team finished the exhibition before the doors opened.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it to emphasise an unlikely achievement. It is expressive and suits conversation or a personal account.
More examples in context
- The club survived against all odds after losing its usual venue and equipment.
- She won the final against all odds after starting far behind the other competitors.
Usage note
Against the odds and against all the odds are variations. The phrase suggests real obstacles; it is not simply another way to say something happened.
A short conversation
A: Did the outdoor performance happen after all those problems?
B: Against all odds, yes. The volunteers found another space and finished in time.
A: That took a lot of effort.
One more practice question
Which achievement happens against all odds?
A. An unlikely success despite several serious obstacles.
B. An easy success under ideal conditions with no obstacles.
Check your answer
A. The achievement goes against what the difficulties made likely.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.