Odds are high/low?

pickarooney

This might be better suited to English, Poker, Soccer or Maths, but I'd like less specific feedback if possible on the interpretation of the expression

"The odds are high that X will happen".

Does this mean there is
a) a good chance, a strong likelihood of it happening
b) very little chance, as much chance as a horse at odds of 1000/1 winning a race

Means there's a good chance of it happening..

WeeBushy

B. Very little chance?

"The chances are high" would mean its likely to happen, but "the odds are high" means it probably aint going to happen.

Pighead

The odds are high that X will happen mean that there is a very good chance that said thing will happen.

For example: The odds are high that a Tesco's worker is going to lose their mind and go on a killing rampage in aisle 3 after hearing the same ten Christmas songs repeated in a loop over and over and over and over again.

Jesus Wept

It means that it's set in stone.

WeeBushy

WeeBushy wrote: »

B. Very little chance?

"The chances are high" would mean its likely to happen, but "the odds are high" means it probably aint going to happen.

Now I'm confused..


I just know that the phrase "ah, the odds of that happening are pretty low" means it's unlikely?

ArmaniJeanss

pickarooney wrote: »

This might be better suited to English, Poker, Soccer or Maths, but I'd like less specific feedback if possible on the interpretation of the expression

"The odds are high that X will happen".

Does this mean there is
a) a good chance, a strong likelihood of it happening
b) very little chance, as much chance as a horse at odds of 1000/1 winning a race

Generally the people (usually media) who say this phrase don't actually have a clue what it means.

They'll happily interchange between the 'the odds are high' and 'the chances are high' as if they mean the same thing, when clearly they mean the opposite.

To answer your OP, the strictly correct answer is B, but often A will be what is meant.

pickarooney

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Generally the people (usually media) who say this phrase don't actually have a clue what it means.

They'll happily interchange between the 'the odds are high' and 'the chances are high' as if they mean the same thing, when clearly they mean the opposite.

To answer your OP, the strictly correct answer is B, but often A will be what is meant.

Thanked for the clarity of your response and the subtle dig at the posters above

ArmaniJeanss

pickarooney wrote: »

Thanked for the clarity of your response and the subtle dig at the posters above

:eek:
Fcking hell, are you trying to get me killed.

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't having a dig at Ads By Google or WeeBushy.
And I 100%, definitely, totally, completely wasn't having a dig, subtle or otherwise at Pighead. That'd be like tickling a random Pitbulls stomach.

Karoma

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

:eek:
Fcking hell, are you trying to get me killed.

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't having a dig at Ads By Google or WeeBushy.
And I 100%, definitely, totally, completely wasn't having a dig, subtle or otherwise at Pighead. That'd be like tickling a random Pitbulls stomach.

Oh, is it Opposite Day again?

Mr. Presentable

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

:eek:
Fcking hell, are you trying to get me killed.

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't having a dig at Ads By Google or WeeBushy.
And I 100%, definitely, totally, completely wasn't having a dig, subtle or otherwise at Pighead. That'd be like tickling a random Pitbulls stomach.

Hang on, you'll have the animal issues lot after you. It's about the owner, not the dog. :rolleyes:

ArmaniJeanss

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't having a dig at Ads By Google or WeeBushy.
And I 100%, definitely, totally, completely wasn't having a dig, subtle or otherwise at Pighead. That'd be like tickling a random Pitbulls stomach.

Goddamnit I want that notoriety

thomond2006

The chances are high = very likely
The odds are high = unlikely

coldwood92

B

WeeBushy

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

:eek:
Fcking hell, are you trying to get me killed.

I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't having a dig at Ads By Google or WeeBushy.
And I 100%, definitely, totally, completely wasn't having a dig, subtle or otherwise at Pighead. That'd be like tickling a random Pitbulls stomach.

Too late, I've already dispatched the hired goons

biko

I think you mean "the odds are against it" - it's not very likely.
High odds - likely to happen.

seamus

Probability is the fuzzy line between true and false.

When something is true, that means it is going to happen, no matter what. When something is false, that means that it will never happen, no matter what.

True and false are traditionally noted as 1 and 0, respectively, and this is the same in probability. When the probability of something occuring is 0, this means that it will never happen. That is, the probability of Pighead scoring Eva Longoria is zero. A probability of one indicates absolute certainty. The probability of your eventual death is 1.

All other probabilities become a number between 0 and 1. The closer to 1, the higher the likelihood, the closer to zero, the lesser.

These are often converted into percentages to make them eaiser to see. So multipy by 100.

So something with a 95% chance/odds of happening is something with a probability of 0.96. So quite likely (but not certain).

So to answer the OP - high odds = likely, low odds = unlikely.

Only bookies use the archaic "odds" meaning when referring to things like 10/1, 7/1 and so forth. In this case, high odds means that the bookie doesn't think it's likely. The bookies' odds don't usually reflect the actual probability.

Pighead

thomond2006 wrote: »

The chances are high = very likely
The odds are high = unlikely

Ah, c'mon now thomond, you're not getting any credit for that. It's easy to say it now after the correct answer has already been given by Armani Jeanss!

The odds are high that you didn't know the proper answer an hour ago. Anyway back to the more pressing matters of Pighead's pride.

Some people have been saying that Pighead has been made look like a fool in this thread by Armani Jeanss. "Looks like Pighead has been outsmarted yet again" said karoma "That'll bring the cocky fcuker down a peg or two" remarked coolsmileygirl. Ha ha he he he he he he. Pighead ya big wally" laughed enniscorthy. But nothing could be further from the truth.

What we have witnessed here today was a battle of extraordinary intelligence. Two brilliant minds colliding. The Irresistable Force vs. The Immovable Object. Unfortunately for Pighead the irresistable force managed to move the immovable object. These things happen. There has to be a winner.. Pighead and Armani Jeanss have clashed countless times over the years and although Pighead has generally come out on top AJ has proved a worthy adversary and deserves his moment in the sun here today.

Remember when the unbeatable Garry Kasparov lost to the Super Computer Deep Blue in a chess match back in the mid 90's? Did this mean he was suddenly a rubbish chess player? Course not. It meant IBM had cheated. Did Armani Jeanss cheat here today like IBM did back in the 90's. Not really up to Pighead to decide. Is AJ actually a Super Computer designed to try and prove Pighead wrong for the first time in his life? Who knows. Has Pighead's intelligence been dented here today over this whole sorry fiasco? No chance.

wudangclan

seamus wrote: »

So to answer the OP - high odds = likely, low odds = unlikely.

Only bookies use the archaic "odds" meaning when referring to things like 10/1, 7/1 and so forth. In this case, high odds means that the bookie doesn't think it's likely. The bookies' odds don't usually reflect the actual probability.

Shouldn't that be the other way around.
The bookies adjust their odds ,higher or lower,to attract or repel money,in order to balance 'the Book' so that every runner either loses them nothing or wins money for them .As you say,these odds don't reflect reality.

Ninja edited,damn you.

pickarooney

Bookies... and all their clients, which is a significant enough sample category.
I'm also thanking Seamus who has subtly implied that if only 'clueless people' (cf. ArmaniJeanss) would reply A then only gambling wastrels would reply B.

wudangclan

pickarooney wrote: »

Bookies... and all their clients, which is a significant enough sample category.
I'm also thanking Seamus who has subtly implied that if only 'clueless people' (cf. ArmaniJeanss) would reply A then only gambling wastrels would reply B.

Not a good place to study probabilities.
They always make their odds 'Overround' ie. more than 100%,typically 115-120%.If everybody bet the same amount on each of one of the runners,to get the same return, their profit would be the amount that is over-round.
This rarely happens which is why they have to adjust the odds to attract more money for one runner or dissuage punters from betting on a heavily betted runner in order to balance the Book.
If this can't be achieved the bookie will 'hedge his bets' ,to cover his ass,so to speak.
I digress.

CliffHuxtabel

This is like when you say "its was all downhill from there".

Downhill as in a less-stressful journey (better) or downhill in the sense that one is no longer at a higher altitude and therefore worse off.

off topic I know