chance (redirected from chances across)

chance your arm (British & Australian, informal)

to take a risk in order to get something that you want. Aren't you chancing your arm a bit giving up a secure job to start a business?

See also: arm

Chance would be a fine thing! (British, informal)

something that you say which means that you would very much like something to happen but there is no possibility that it will. He said I could do it in my spare time. Spare time? Chance would be a fine thing!

See also: fine, thing

Fat chance! (informal)

something that you say which means something is not very likely to happen. 'D'you think your Dad'll drive us to the disco?' 'Fat chance!'

See also: fat

a fifty-fifty chance

if there is a fifty-fifty chance of something happening, it is equally likely to happen or not to happen. I'd say he's got a fifty-fifty chance of winning the race. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: fifty-fifty

a fighting chance

a small but real possibility that you might do or achieve something. If we can raise another thousand pounds we'll have a fighting chance of saving the theatre. (often + of + doing something) A good education will ensure that even the most disadvantaged children are given a fighting chance.

See also: fight

not a ghost of a chance

if someone does not have a ghost of a chance, they are not at all likely to succeed. Against competition like that, they didn't have the ghost of a chance of winning. (sometimes + of + doing something)

See also: ghost

given half a/the chance (informal)

if someone would do something given half a chance, they would certainly do it if they had the opportunity. He'd steal from his own grandmother, given half the chance. Given half a chance I'd leave this job today.

See also: given, half

not have a cat in hell's chance (British)

to have no chance at all of achieving something. Thay haven't a cat in hell's chance of getting over the mountain in weather like this. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: cat

not have a chance/hope in hell

to have no chance at all of achieving something. She hasn't a hope in hell of passing these exams. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: hell, hope

not have a dog's chance (informal)

to not have any chance of doing something that you want to do. He hasn't a dog's chance of getting that job. (usually + of + doing something)

not have a snowball's chance in hell

to have no chance at all of achieving something. With those grades she hasn't a snowball's chance in hell of getting into college. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: hell

have an eye for/on the main chance (British & Australian)

if someone has an eye for the main chance, they are always looking for opportunities to make money and to improve their situation. She was someone who had an eye on the main chance and who never missed an opportunity to exploit others.

See also: eye, main

on the off-chance

if you do something on the off-chance, you do it because you hope you will get or find something or someone, even if it is not very likely. I don't think he works in the shop on Saturdays, but you could stop by on the off-chance. Journalists often investigate film stars' private lives on the off-chance that they might find something scandalous. (often + that) She flew in from New York on the off-chance of getting tickets to see Becker play his last match at Wimbledon. (often + of + doing something)

a sporting chance

a good chance that something will happen, although it is not certain. It's by no means definite but there's a sporting chance he'll get the job.

stand a chance

to have a chance of success. If government funding is withdrawn, small, independent theatres don't stand a chance. (usually negative) We might stand a chance of winning if we continue to play as well as we did today. (often + of + doing something)

See also: stand

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fat chance

there is very little or no possibility of that happening. Will Hal make you laugh? Fat chance.

Usage notes: usually used as a separate sentence to remark on what was just said, as in the example

See also: fat

a ghost of a chance

a very small possibility. There's not a ghost of a chance that he'll be promoted.

See also: ghost

given half a chance

allowed any opportunity. Given half a chance, most writers would rather talk about a project than work on it.

Usage notes: also used in the form give someone/something half a chance: If we give Geoff half a chance, he could paint that kind of portrait.

See also: given, half

have a fighting chance

to have a reasonable likelihood. The Socialist Party has a fighting chance to win control of the French government.

Usage notes: often used in the form not have a fighting chance: If they don't like the way you perform in practice, you don't have a fighting chance of getting into a game.

level the playing field

See also: fight

not a chance

it will not happen. Will classroom volunteers solve America's reading problems? Not a chance. “I'd like to see us win easily for a change.” “No chance, not against this team.”

Usage notes: usually used as a separate sentence to comment on what was just said, as in the example

not have a (snowball's) chance in hell

not have any possibility. It quickly became clear that I didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of finding my lost wallet.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form have no chance in hell

Etymology: based on the idea that a snowball (= snow pressed into a round shape) would melt in hell

See also: hell

on the off chance

because it is possible but unlikely. I bought a first edition of the book on the off chance that it might be valuable someday.

stand a chance

to have the possibility of being successful. If you're thinking about suing someone, talk to a lawyer to see if you stand a chance.

Usage notes: often used in the form not stand a chance: Shy students don't stand a chance in such a large class.

See also: stand

stand a chance of doing something

to have the possibility of doing something. Do you think he stands a chance of beating Mark?

See also: stand

take your chances

to depend on luck. I would rather take my chances than try some drug no one knows much about.

See also: take