idiom · neutral
beat the odds
UK/biːt ði ˈɒdz/US/biːt ði ˈɑːdz/BEAT·the·ODDS
to succeed despite low chances of success; to overcome difficult circumstances
Examples
“She beat the odds and graduated top of her class despite financial hardship.”
“Many small businesses beat the odds and survive their first tough year.”
“He beat the odds by recovering fully after the accident.”
Band 8 sentence
“Despite being the only first-generation student in her cohort, she beat the odds and secured a scholarship to a top university.”
Collocations
- beat the odds to do something
- beat the odds against
Word family
Common mistakes
beat the odd→beat the odds
beat the chances→beat the odds
They beat the odds last year and are still growing now → They beat the odds last year and still grow now→They beat the odds last year and are still growing now
Say it for a higher band
5overcome difficulties→6defy expectations→7+beat the odds
Synonyms
defy expectations
overcome obstacles
Related words
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In Success
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