on the off-chance
on the off chance
In the very slight, remote, or unlikely possibility (that something may happen or be the case). Usually followed by "of" or "that." You'll probably need to replace your washing machine, but on the off chance that I can fix it, let me open it up and take a look. I know it's supposed to stay dry tonight, but on the off chance of rain, please put the kids' bikes back in the shed anyway.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
on the off chance
because of a slight possibility that something may happen or might be the case; just in case. I went to the theater on the off chance that there were tickets for the show left. We didn't think we would get into the football game, but we went on the off chance.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
on the off chance
see under on the chance that.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
on the off-chance
mainly BRITISHCOMMON If you do something on the off-chance, you do it because there is a small chance that a good thing will happen even though you do not really expect it to. She had turned up on the off-chance of catching a glimpse of the princess. I just thought I'd call on the off-chance. Note: You can also say that there is an off-chance that something good will happen, if there is a small chance that it will happen. An additional reason for her attendance was the off-chance that she might find Darren there.
See also: on
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
on the off chance
just in case. 1992 Neal Stephenson Snow Crash They upload staggering quantities of useless information to the database, on the off chance that some of it will eventually be useful.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
on the ˈoff chance
(informal) hoping that something will happen, even if it is unlikely: I called at their house on the off chance that they’d let me stay, but they weren’t at home.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
on the off chance
In the slight hope or possibility.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.