odds and ends
零碎雜物;談話的片斷;瑣碎小事
Odds n. sing. & pl.
1. Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. The odds are often expressed by a ratio; as, the odds are three to one that he will win, i. e. he will win three times out of four “Preeminent by so much odds.” --Milton. “The fearful odds of that unequal fray.”
The odds
Is that we scarce are men and you are gods. --Shak.
There appeared, at least, four to one odds against them. --Swift.
All the odds between them has been the different scope . . . given to their understandings to range in. --Locke.
Judging is balancing an account and determining on which side the odds lie. --Locke.
2. Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; -- chiefly in the phrase at odds.
Set them into confounding odds. --Shak.
I can not speak
Any beginning to this peevish odds. --Shak.
At odds, in dispute; at variance. “These squires at odds did fall.” --Spenser. “He flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds.” --Shak.
It is odds, it is probable; same as odds are, but no longer used. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.
odds are it is probable; as, odds are he will win the gold medal.
Odds and ends, that which is left; remnants; fragments; refuse; scraps; miscellaneous articles. “My brain is filled . . . with all kinds of odds and ends.” --W. Irving.
slim odds low odds; poor chances; as, there are slim odds he will win any medal.
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Ord n. An edge or point; also, a beginning. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Ord and end, the beginning and end. Cf. Odds and ends, under Odds. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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odds and ends
n : a motley assortment of things [syn: oddments, melange, farrago,
ragbag, hodgepodge, mishmash, mingle-mangle, hotchpotch,
omnium-gatherum]