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Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
Division (I) Formation of Ideas
Section III. Materials for Reasoning

473. Improbability.

   NOUN:IMPROBABILITY, unlikelihood; unfavorable -, bad -, ghost of a -, little -, small -, poor -, scarcely any -, no- chance; bare possibility; long odds; incredibility [See Unbelief. Doubt].
   VERB:BE IMPROBABLE &c. adj.; violate -, stretch- the probabilities; go beyond reason, strain one’s credulity; run counter to the laws of nature; have a small chance &c. n.; stand a poor show [colloq.].
   ADJECTIVE:IMPROBABLE, unlikely, contrary to all reasonable expectation; contrary to -fact, – experience; implausible, rare (infrequent) [See Infrequency]; unheard of, inconceivable; unimaginable, inimaginable [obs.]; incredible [See Unbelief. Doubt]; more than doubtful.
   INTERJECTION:NOT LIKELY! no fear! [chiefly Eng.]; I ask you! [slang]; catch me! [slang].    QUOTATIONS:
  1. The chances are against.
  2. Aquila non capit muscas.
  3. Pedir peras al olmo.
  4. Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.—Gay