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Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
at odds
How come 'at odds' means something like 'in disagreement; in conflict'? Why do you native speakers perceive it that way??
Top answer
Taka How come 'at odds' means something like 'in disagreement; in conflict'? Why do you native speakers perceive it that way?? My American Heritage Dictionary simply identifies it as an idiomatic use.
- Taka How come 'at odds' means something like 'in disagreement; in conflict'?
- Why do you native speakers perceive it that way??
- My American Heritage Dictionary simply identifies it as an idiomatic use.
- Sorry I can't offer more.
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5 Answers
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TakaHow come 'at odds' means something like 'in disagreement; in conflict'? Why do you native speakers perceive it that way??My American Heritage Dictionary simply identifies it as an idiomatic use. Sorry I can't offer more.
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Hello Taka
An early meaning of 'odd' was 'left over'; for instance, the change you are given when you pay for a newspaper might be called the 'odd money' or 'odd pence'. (Cf. also 'odds and ends'.)
From this, a sense of 'difference' emerged. So 'that makes no odds' means 'that makes no difference'.
And when two people are 'at odds', they are 'have differences'.
An early meaning of 'odd' was 'left over'; for instance, the change you are given when you pay for a newspaper might be called the 'odd money' or 'odd pence'. (Cf. also 'odds and ends'.)
From this, a sense of 'difference' emerged. So 'that makes no odds' means 'that makes no difference'.
And when two people are 'at odds', they are 'have differences'.
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OMG, they complicated is as ****...This way it's possible to get that 'at odds' means 'tipys dolphins'...really 
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Very interesting! And you never cease to amaze me, my learned friend, MrP!
Let me ask you something. You said you were not making living teaching English, right? Then, what do you do, may I ask? I've been wondering how you've developed such deep insight into English...
Let me ask you something. You said you were not making living teaching English, right? Then, what do you do, may I ask? I've been wondering how you've developed such deep insight into English...
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From Nisus Thesaurus:
at odds (as in "at odds(p)") adj. : in disagreement; "the figures are at odds with our findings".
at odds (as in "at odds(p)") adj. : on bad terms; "they were usually at odds over politics"; "conflicting opinions".
at odds (as in "at odds(p)") adj. : in disagreement; "the figures are at odds with our findings".
at odds (as in "at odds(p)") adj. : on bad terms; "they were usually at odds over politics"; "conflicting opinions".
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