lay odds

present singular third person lays odds · participle present laying odds · participle past laid odds · past laid odds

1. To offer a bet at stated odds.

   Bookies are already laying odds on the outcome of the next general election.

   Synonyms: give odds

2. figurativelyoftenTo express a high level of confidence in an outcome by offering odds whereby one would lose substantially in the event of an unfavourable result.

   I'll lay odds that they're divorced by Christmas.

   2 more examples

   Prince John: "I will lay odds that, ere this year expire, / We bear our civil swords and native fire / As far as France. I heard a bird so sing, / Whose music, to my thinking, pleas'd the King."

   c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]

   "We're dead safe," he assured them with a laugh. "No salt mines this time, Smoke. But I'll tell you what -- I'll lay odds of five to one it's the Macedonia."

   1904, Jack London, chapter 24, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC