not have a prayer

not have a prayer

To be completely impossible or incredibly unlikely; to have no chance whatsoever. With the way that the other team has been playing, I'm afraid our guys don't have a prayer. That bill doesn't have a prayer of passing.

See also: have, not, prayer

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

not have a prayer

If you say that someone does not have a prayer, you mean that it is impossible for them to achieve something. The team was on such good form, their opponents didn't have a prayer. He did not seem to have a prayer of regaining the world title.

See also: have, not, prayer

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

not have a prayer

have no chance at all of succeeding at something. informal

1998 Oldie Show them you can re-programme the computer to eliminate the Millennium Problem and you are in. Confess that you don't even know how to turn it on, and you haven't a prayer.

See also: have, not, prayer

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

not have a ˈprayer (of doing something)

have no chance of succeeding: She’s done no work at all this term, so she doesn’t have a prayer of passing her exams.

See also: have, not, prayer

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017