take a chance on

take a chance on (someone or something)

To give someone or something an opportunity to succeed when there is an appreciable risk that they or it may fail or result in a negative outcome. Look, I was willing to take a chance on your idea, but it didn't pan out. I'm not sinking any more money into it now! I normally don't like taking chances on people I haven't personally vetted, but Sarah is extremely confident in you.

See also: chance, on, take

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

take a chance on someone or something

to gamble that something good might happen or that someone might do well; to take a risk that something would go wrong or that someone would do badly. I just couldn't take a chance on Walter, so I picked David. I would never take a chance on that horse!

See also: chance, on, take

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.