📒 a possibility of something happening, especially something that you want
- chance of doing something She only has a slim chance of passing the exam.
- Is there any chance of getting tickets for tonight?
- chance that… There's a good chance that he'll be back in time.
📒 a suitable time or situation when you have the opportunity to do something
- It was the chance she had been waiting for.
- Jeff deceived me once already—I won't give him a second chance.
- This is your big chance (= opportunity for success).
📒 an unpleasant or dangerous possibility
- When installing electrical equipment don't take any chances. A mistake could kill.
- The car might break down but that's a chance we'll have to take.
- chance on somebody/something The producers didn't want to take a chance on an unknown actor.
📒 the way that some things happen without any cause that you can see or understand
- I met her by chance (= without planning to) at the airport.
- Chess is not a game of chance.
- It was pure chance that we were both there.
📒 happening in a way that was lucky, although it was not planned
- As chance would have it, John was going to London too, so I went with him.
📒 to have the possibility of succeeding or achieving something
- ‘Do you think we'll win?’ ‘I think we're in with a chance.’
- He's in with a good chance of passing the exam.
- After a poor start, they are now in with a chance of winning the league.
📒 used especially in questions, to ask whether something is true, possible, etc.
- Are you in love with him, by any chance?
- Are you by any chance Mr Ludd?
📒 it is likely that…
- The chances are you won't have to pay.
📒 people say chance would be a fine thing to show that they would like to do or have the thing that somebody has mentioned, but that they do not think that it is very likely
📒 used for saying that you do not believe something is likely to happen
- ‘They might let us in without tickets.’ ‘Fat chance of that!’
- Fat chance of him helping you!
📒 a small chance of being successful if a great effort is made
- We still have a fighting chance of beating them and winning the Cup.
- If you win this round then you still have a fighting chance.
📒 to give somebody/something some opportunity to do something
- That dog will give you a nasty bite, given half a chance.
📒 to be equally likely to do or not do something
- She has more than an even chance of winning tomorrow.
- There’s an even chance that the jury will find him guilty.
📒 there is no possibility
- ‘Do you think he'll do it?’ ‘No chance.’
📒 to have no chance at all
📒 to have no chance at all
- He hasn't a dog's chance of passing the exam.
📒 to have no chance at all
- There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that I'll wear that thing!
📒 because of the possibility of something happening, although it is unlikely
- I didn't think you'd be at home but I just called by on the off chance.
- She scanned the crowd on the off chance of seeing someone she knew.
- I called in at the office on the off chance that you would still be there.
📒 a reasonable chance of success
📒 to have the possibility of succeeding or achieving something
- The driver didn't stand a chance of stopping in time.
- He doesn't stand a chance of winning against such an experienced player.
📒 to decide to do something, knowing that it might be the wrong choice
- We took a chance on the weather and planned to have the party outside.
- The manager took a chance on the young goalkeeper.
- The guide book didn't mention the hotel, but we decided to take a chance.
📒 to take a risk or to use the opportunities that you have and hope that things will happen in the way that you want
- He took his chances and jumped into the water.
📒 with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself