odds are stacked against (someone)

idiom

used to describe a situation in which someone does not have a good or fair chance of winning, succeeding, etc.
She felt the odds are stacked against her.

Examples of odds are stacked against (someone) in a Sentence

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Whatever unfolds inside the Manhattan courtroom, attorney and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani — who is not involved in the case — believes the odds are stacked against him. Danielle Bacher, People.com, 9 May 2025 Now, the historical odds are stacked against the defending NBA champions. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025 The odds are stacked against No. 4 seed Maryland heading into its 5 p.m. matchup Friday against the Gamecocks at Legacy Arena. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025 But when someone feels the odds are stacked against them, working around the system can feel like the only way forward. Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odds are stacked against (someone)

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“Odds are stacked against (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/odds%20are%20stacked%20against%20%28someone%29. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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