fat chance

fat chance

Said of something that is unlikely to happen. A: "Maybe the teacher will let us out of class early today." B: "Ha! Fat chance."

See also: chance, fat

fat chance

Fig. very little likelihood. Fat chance he has of getting a promotion. You think she'll lend you the money? Fat chance!

See also: chance, fat

fat chance

Very little or no possibility, as in A fact chance he has of coming in first, or You think they'll get married? Fat chance! A related expression is a fat lot, meaning "very little or none at all," as in A fat lot of good it will do her. The first of these slangy sarcastic usages dates from the early 1900s, the second from the 1890s.

See also: chance, fat

fat chance

INFORMAL

COMMON People say fat chance to show that they do not think that something will happen. There's fat chance the course of true love will run smoothly. He wants to be a basketball star, but at 5' 6'' there's fat chance of that happening.

See also: chance, fat

(a) ˈfat chance (of something/doing something)

(spoken) used when you think that there is no possibility of something happening: He said he’d give me a job if I passed my exam with a grade A. A fat chance I have of that! ♢ ‘Do you think she’ll lend me the money?’ ‘Fat chance.’

See also: chance, fat

fat chance

n. a very poor chance. (Sarcastic.) Fat chance I’ll ever get a new car.

See also: chance, fat

fat chance

Slang

Very little or no chance.

See also: chance, fat