against all odds
/əˌɡenst ˌɔːl ˈɒdz/NEUTRAL · C2
Meaning
although success seemed very unlikely
Examples
- 1Against all odds, the tiny village school won the national science prize.
- 2Nobody expected the old cinema to survive, but against all odds it's still open.
- 3With no money and no experience, they opened the café against all odds, and it's now fully booked.
- 4Priya was the youngest player in the chess final, but against all odds she won.
- 5Did the lost puppy really survive against all odds after three days in the snow?
Grammar
The phrase does not change. against the odds and against all the odds mean the same.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →miss the boatto lose a chance by acting too slowlyfall flatto fail to have the effect that was intendedmake the gradeto be good enough to succeeda flash in the pana success that happens once and does not lastriding highbeing very successful at the momentcome up trumpsto succeed or help when people did not expect it
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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