to manipulate the odds

[annenas]

Hello!
Can anyone tell me if 'manipulating the odds' is a correct english idiom. And what it generally means.
Thanks

[BobK]

It's correct (though questionable*), but it's not an idiom.

*I'm not a fan of using 'manipulate' to refer to operations that don't involve the hands (manus). But it is often used that way - meaning, here, 'to cause to change by artificial means'. 'The odds' here mean 'the likelihoods of various results, and the numbers associated with those likelihoods'.

b

[annenas]

Thanks for generous and quick reply! This is really effective this forum!
Cheers

[joham]

It's correct (though questionable*), but it's not an idiom.

*I'm not a fan of using 'manipulate' to refer to operations that don't involve the hands (manus). But it is often used that way - meaning, here, 'to cause to change by artificial means'. 'The odds' here mean 'the likelihoods of various results, and the numbers associated with those likelihoods'.

b

I like this thread very much. Thank you a lot, annenas and BobK. From this thread I got to know that the 'mani-' in 'manipulate' means the hands, which helps me to better understand this word. Could you tell me what the root '-pul-' means please? Thank you again.

[joham]

I found this webpage and seem to understand now. But thank you all the same.


Vocabulary Made Easy


books.google.com.hkVisual Education Corporation - 1984 - p128 The word implies a lack of thoroughness. A cursory examination is one that is not thoroughly done. The Root -pel-, -pul- To repel something is to drive, or push, it back — something repulsive drives you back. The root -pel- or -pul- ...

[catbert]

*I'm not a fan of using 'manipulate' to refer to operations that don't involve the hands (manus). But it is often used that way

Not only is the word "manipulate" often used that way, it's used that way almost exclusively.

[waflob]

What about manipulative people?

[catbert]

What about manipulative people?

I shudder to think what that would imply if their hands were involved.