It was barely even money

Question

Hi"He hoped he would live to enjoy the experience. Right now it was barely even money on that score."Regarding the above sentences, What is the meaning of the last sentence?  Is it an idiom? What is the function and meaning of "even" here?Thank you Hossein

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

"He hoped he would live to enjoy the experience. Right now it was barely even money on that score."

Regarding the above sentences, What is the meaning of the last sentence? Is it an idiom? What is the function and meaning of "even" here?

'Even money' is a reference to the gambling concept of 'odds'.

Assume there is going to be a horse race.

The odds on horse A are 3 to 1 against it winning. That means that, if you bet $1 and horse A wins, you gain $3.

The odds on horse B are 1 to 1. That means that, if you bet $1 and horse A wins, you gain $1.

Odds of 1 to 1 are referred to as even odds, or 'even money'.

Thus, the expression 'even money' refers to a situation where there is an equal chance of two things happening. In your sentence, there is (barely) an equal chance that he will live to enjoy the experience, or he will not.

'On that score' is an idiomatic way of sayng 'in regard to that matter'.

Clive

It was barely even money

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