what is the meaning of 'Likelier than not' [on hold]
I know what 'likely' means, but the expression 'Likelier than not' is strange to me!
phrases expressions
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
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put on hold as off-topic by Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist♦ 11 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
I know what 'likely' means, but the expression 'Likelier than not' is strange to me!
phrases expressions
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as off-topic by Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist♦ 11 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago
add a comment |
I know what 'likely' means, but the expression 'Likelier than not' is strange to me!
phrases expressions
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I know what 'likely' means, but the expression 'Likelier than not' is strange to me!
phrases expressions
phrases expressions
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
asked 12 hours ago
pia
12
12
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
pia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as off-topic by Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist♦ 11 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as off-topic by Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist♦ 11 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Hellion, Robusto, Janus Bahs Jacquet, J. Taylor, tchrist
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago
add a comment |
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
In mathematical terms, it means that the chance for something to occur is more than 50%.
This is expressed by saying that it is likelier (more likely) [to happen] than [it is to] not [happen]. There could be a 51% chance of it happening (and therefore a 49% chance that it would not happen), or a 99% chance of happening (and 1% of not happening), or anywhere in between, as long as the percentage chance of happening is greater than the chance of not happening.
(If there is a 50/50 situation, the expression to use would be "as likely as not".)
Of course, people rarely have an actual ratio in mind, and may often say this even if they have no idea how likely something is.
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
add a comment |
It sounds strange to me too. I would have used more likely instead of likelier - and I think I am not the only one:
Ngram
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
In mathematical terms, it means that the chance for something to occur is more than 50%.
This is expressed by saying that it is likelier (more likely) [to happen] than [it is to] not [happen]. There could be a 51% chance of it happening (and therefore a 49% chance that it would not happen), or a 99% chance of happening (and 1% of not happening), or anywhere in between, as long as the percentage chance of happening is greater than the chance of not happening.
(If there is a 50/50 situation, the expression to use would be "as likely as not".)
Of course, people rarely have an actual ratio in mind, and may often say this even if they have no idea how likely something is.
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
add a comment |
In mathematical terms, it means that the chance for something to occur is more than 50%.
This is expressed by saying that it is likelier (more likely) [to happen] than [it is to] not [happen]. There could be a 51% chance of it happening (and therefore a 49% chance that it would not happen), or a 99% chance of happening (and 1% of not happening), or anywhere in between, as long as the percentage chance of happening is greater than the chance of not happening.
(If there is a 50/50 situation, the expression to use would be "as likely as not".)
Of course, people rarely have an actual ratio in mind, and may often say this even if they have no idea how likely something is.
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
add a comment |
In mathematical terms, it means that the chance for something to occur is more than 50%.
This is expressed by saying that it is likelier (more likely) [to happen] than [it is to] not [happen]. There could be a 51% chance of it happening (and therefore a 49% chance that it would not happen), or a 99% chance of happening (and 1% of not happening), or anywhere in between, as long as the percentage chance of happening is greater than the chance of not happening.
(If there is a 50/50 situation, the expression to use would be "as likely as not".)
Of course, people rarely have an actual ratio in mind, and may often say this even if they have no idea how likely something is.
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
In mathematical terms, it means that the chance for something to occur is more than 50%.
This is expressed by saying that it is likelier (more likely) [to happen] than [it is to] not [happen]. There could be a 51% chance of it happening (and therefore a 49% chance that it would not happen), or a 99% chance of happening (and 1% of not happening), or anywhere in between, as long as the percentage chance of happening is greater than the chance of not happening.
(If there is a 50/50 situation, the expression to use would be "as likely as not".)
Of course, people rarely have an actual ratio in mind, and may often say this even if they have no idea how likely something is.
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
edited 11 hours ago
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
answered 12 hours ago
Hellion
52.9k13108196
52.9k13108196
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
add a comment |
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
In general we speak without a lot of precision in English, at least not mathematical precision. I doubt most speakers have precise ratios in mind when using such terms."As likely as not" means roughly equal probabilities, but the phrase is used much of the time to allow wiggle room.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
@Robusto very true.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
On the other hand, I like @Hellion's logical analysis of the phrase, because it explains how people came up with it in the first place.
– Andy
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Andy: I think you're putting the cart before the horse. As likely as not the precise analysis came after the expression.
– Robusto
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
Perhaps I should have said that it's likelier than not that they say it even if they have no idea how likely it is.
– Hellion
11 hours ago
add a comment |
It sounds strange to me too. I would have used more likely instead of likelier - and I think I am not the only one:
Ngram
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
add a comment |
It sounds strange to me too. I would have used more likely instead of likelier - and I think I am not the only one:
Ngram
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
add a comment |
It sounds strange to me too. I would have used more likely instead of likelier - and I think I am not the only one:
Ngram
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
It sounds strange to me too. I would have used more likely instead of likelier - and I think I am not the only one:
Ngram
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
answered 11 hours ago
michael.hor257k
11.4k41838
11.4k41838
add a comment |
add a comment |
It just means "probably" ...
– Robusto
11 hours ago
@Hellion you've downvoted, so I want to delete my question, but StackExchange doesn't let me do so, what should I do?
– pia
10 hours ago
@pia I have not downvoted, someone else must have done that. (Though I did cast a close vote to suggest that you might have better results on the English Language Learners website.) However, because the question has been answered and the answer has a positive score, you are not allowed to delete it. See this question & answer on Meta Stack Overflow for more information.
– Hellion
10 hours ago