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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

the odds of/on

Hi,

'The odds of/on' is quite a common phrase here in the UK, but should 'of' or 'on' be used?

For example

1) The odds of/on me getting married are slim

2) The odds of/on the team ever winning a game are poor

3) The odds of/on the Buffalo Bills winning a Superbowl are zero Emotion: sad

4) The odds of/on the horse winning are 5:1

I tend to use both 'of' and 'on', so I'm unsure as to how I should use them in a formal manner

Thanks for your help
  

Top answer

" #3 doesn't work - odds are a ratio, not a number. The probability of the Bills wining a Superbowl (this year, anyway) is about zero. #1 is sketchy on the same premise - the chance is slim, the odds are low.

— BarbaraPA

  • " #3 doesn't work - odds are a ratio, not a number.
  • The probability of the Bills wining a Superbowl (this year, anyway) is about zero.
  • #1 is sketchy on the same premise - the chance is slim, the odds are low.
  • But I don't object to #1 as much as I do #3.
  • " Here, you are actually talking about "odds" in the real sense - gambling.
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2 Answers
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I don't know about UK usage, but in the US, it's "the odds of..."

#3 doesn't work - odds are a ratio, not a number. The probability of the Bills wining a Superbowl (this year, anyway) is about zero.

#1 is sketchy on the same premise - the chance is slim, the odds are low. But I don't object to #1 as much as I do #3.

#4 actually should use "on." Here, you are actually tal
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Thanks for your help!
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