lay odds

Idioms and Phrases

Make a bet on terms favorable to the other party, as in I'll lay odds that it will rain before the week is out . [c. 1600] The closely related lay a wager means “make a bet,” as in He laid a wager that Don would be late . [c. 1300]

Example Sentences

The tables were deserted, and the dealers and gamekeepers came forth to see the outcome of the wager and to lay odds.

From Literature

You can lay odds that there will be at least one docudrama, probably to be directed by Jay Roach, focusing on the incompetent federal response.

From Los Angeles Times

Galston, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, said: “I would lay odds on it being an African American, and possibly an African American woman.”

From The Guardian

A betting man might lay odds that King will prevail in a primary as a visionary zealot who prepared the way for our fearless and feckless leader Trump.

From The Guardian

Basically, our goal is to make forecasts, to handicap the race, and to lay odds.

From Slate

Related Words

• pony up
• speculate
• wager