chance
an occasion that allows something to be done
فرصت، مجال
He put the phone down before I had a chance to answer.
پيش از آنكه فرصت جواب داشته باشم تلفن را زمين گذاشت.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
chance
noun
1 (no plural) a possibility that something may happen:
There's no chance that she'll come now.
She has a good chance of becoming team captain.
He doesn't stand (= have) a chance of passing the exam.
2 (plural chances) a time when you can do something same meaning opportunity:
It was their last chance to escape.
Be quiet and give her a chance to explain.
3 (no plural) when something happens that you cannot control or that you have not planned same meaning luck:
We must plan this carefully. I don't want to leave anything to chance.
We met by chance at the station.
no chance (informal) used to say that there is no possibility of something happening:
'Perhaps your mum will give you the money.' 'No chance!'
take a chance to do something when it is possible that something bad may happen because of it:
We may lose money but we'll just have to take that chance.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
chance
I. chance1 S1 W1 /tʃɑːns $ tʃæns/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Vulgar Latin cadentia 'fall', from Latin cadere 'to fall']
1. POSSIBILITY [uncountable and countable] the possibility that something will happen, especially something you want:
There’s always the chance that something will go wrong.
chance of
What are the team’s chances of success?
If we did move to London, I’d stand a much better chance (=have a much better chance) of getting a job.
There is little chance of her being found alive.
Chances are (=it is likely that) you’ll be fine.
2. OPPORTUNITY [countable] a time or situation which you can use to do something that you want to do SYN opportunity
chance to do something
Ralph was waiting for a chance to introduce himself.
chance of
our only chance of escape
I’m sorry, I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.
If someone invited me over to Florida, I’d jump at the chance (=use the opportunity eagerly).
3. RISK take a chance to do something that involves risks:
The rope might break, but that’s a chance we’ll have to take.
After losing $20,000 on my last business venture, I’m not taking any chances this time.
take a chance on
He was taking a chance on a relatively new young actor.
He decided to take his chances in the boat.
4. LIKELY TO SUCCEED sb’s chances how likely it is that someone will succeed:
Ryan will be a candidate in next month’s elections, but his chances are not good.
sb’s chances of doing something
England’s chances of winning the series have all but disappeared.
not fancy/not rate sb’s chances British English (=think someone is unlikely to succeed)
I don’t fancy their chances against Brazil.
► Do not say ‘someone’s chances to do something’. Say someone’s chances of doing something.
5. LUCK [uncountable] the way some things happen without being planned or caused by people ⇨ fate
by chance
I bumped into her quite by chance in Oxford Street.
leave something to chance (=to not plan something but just hope that everything will happen as intended)
Dave had thought of every possibility, he was leaving nothing to chance.
pure/sheer/blind chance (=not at all planned)
It was pure chance that they ended up working in the same office in the same town.
As chance would have it, the one time I wanted to see her, she wasn’t in.
6. by any chance spoken used to ask politely whether something is true:
Are you Mrs Grant, by any chance?
7. any chance of ...? spoken used to ask whether you can have something or whether something is possible:
Any chance of a cup of coffee?
Any chance of you coming to the party on Saturday?
8. be in with a chance if a competitor is in with a chance, it is possible that they will win:
I think we’re in with a good chance of beating them.
9. no chance!/fat chance! spoken used to emphasize that you are sure something could never happen:
‘Maybe your brother would lend you the money?’ ‘Huh, fat chance!’
10. on the off chance if you do something on the off chance, you do it hoping for a particular result, although you know it is not likely:
I didn’t really expect her to be at home. I just called on the off chance. ⇨ ↑off-chance
11. chance would be a fine thing! British English spoken used to mean that the thing you want to happen is very unlikely:
‘Do you think you’ll get married?’ ‘Chance would be a fine thing!’
⇨ game of chance at ↑game1(15)
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have/stand a chance (of something) (=it is possible you will do it) I think you have a good chance of getting the job.
▪ give somebody a chance of doing something (=say how likely it is that they will do it) He has been given a fifty-fifty chance of being fit for Sunday’s match.
▪ increase the chance of something Certain foods increase the chance of heart disease.
▪ improve the chance of something The book shows you how to improve your chance of success.
▪ reduce/lessen the chance of something The talks were aimed at reducing the chance of war.
▪ ruin any chance of something (=make it impossible for something to happen) Drinking alcohol can ruin any chance of weight loss.
▪ jeopardize any chance of something (=make something less likely to happen) This could jeopardize any chance of a ceasefire.
■ adjectives
▪ a good chance (=when something is likely) I think there is a good chance that he will say yes.
▪ every chance (=a good chance) There’s every chance that the baby will survive.
▪ some chance There’s some chance of snow later this week.
▪ a small/slight/slim chance He only has a very small chance of being elected. | There’s a slight chance of some sunshine in the west.
▪ no/little/not much chance The prisoners knew there was little chance of escape.
▪ a one in three/four/ten etc chance (=used to say how likely something is) People in their 30s have a one in 3,000 chance of getting the disease.
▪ a fair chance (=a fairly good chance) If you work, you have a fair chance of passing the test.
▪ a sporting chance (=a fairly good chance) The proposals had at least a sporting chance of being accepted.
▪ a fighting chance (=a small but real chance) The Republican Party has a fighting chance at the next election.
▪ a fifty-fifty chance (=an equal chance that something will or will not happen) I’d say there is a 50–50 chance that the deal will go through.
▪ an outside/a remote chance (=a very small chance) He still has an outside chance of winning the championship.
▪ a million-to-one chance/a one in a million chance (=when something is extremely unlikely) It must have been a million-to-one chance that we’d meet.
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ get/have a chance to do something I’d like a job in which I get the chance to travel.
▪ give somebody/offer/provide a chance I was given the chance to play the main part in the play. | Sport provides a chance for you to get outside with friends.
▪ take a chance (=accept an opportunity) If I was offered the chance to be in the team, I’d take it.
▪ jump at a chance (=use an opportunity eagerly) Ed jumped at the chance to earn some extra money.
▪ grab/seize a chance (=quickly use an opportunity) As soon as she stopped speaking, I grabbed the chance to leave.
▪ miss/lose a chance (=not use an opportunity) He missed a chance to score just before half time.
▪ throw away/pass up/turn down a chance (=not accept or use an opportunity) Imagine throwing up a chance to go to America!
▪ welcome the chance to do something I’d welcome the chance to discuss the problem with someone.
▪ deserve a chance Every kid deserves a chance in life.
▪ blow a chance informal (=have a special opportunity and fail to use it) He thought he’d blown his chance of happiness.
■ adjectives
▪ a second chance/another chance The interview went badly, so I didn’t think they would give me a second chance.
▪ sb’s last chance This is my last chance to try and pass the exam.
■ phrases
▪ the chance of a lifetime (=one that you are very unlikely to have again) If you don’t decide soon, you’ll have missed the chance of a lifetime.
▪ now’s your chance spoken (=you have the opportunity to do something now) You’re not working so now’s your chance to write a book.
▪ given the chance/given half a chance (=if there is an opportunity to do something) Goats will eat anything, given half a chance.
THESAURUS
▪ luck noun [uncountable] when good or bad things happen to people by chance: The game involves an element of luck as well as skill.
▪ chance noun [uncountable] the way that some things happen without being planned or caused by people: I met her by chance on a plane to Tokyo. | Like all top athletes, he leaves nothing to chance, and trains harder than anybody.
▪ fortune noun [uncountable] luck and the effect it has on your life: I had the good fortune to work with some great people. | The tour was dogged by ill fortune (=it had a lot of bad luck) from the start. | Fortune has shone on the team so far this season (=they have been lucky).
▪ fate noun [uncountable] a power that some people believe controls what happens to people and which cannot be changed or stopped: Fate dealt him a cruel blow with the death of his wife at the age of 32. | It must have been fate that brought them together, and fate that tore them apart. | We can’t just leave it to fate.
▪ providence noun [uncountable] a power which some people believe controls what happens in our lives and protects us: Do you believe in divine providence (=God’s power to make things happen)? | Her life was mapped out for her by providence.
▪ fluke noun [countable usually singular] informal something good that happens because of luck: Their second goal was a fluke. | They won by a fluke.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
chance
chance [chance chances chanced chancing] noun, verb, adjective [tʃɑːns] [tʃæns]
noun
1. countable, uncountable a possibility of sth happening, especially sth that you want
• ~ of doing sth Is there any chance of getting tickets for tonight?
• She has only a slim chance of passing the exam.
• ~ that… There's a slight chance that he'll be back in time.
• There is no chance that he will change his mind.
• ~ of sth happening What chance is there of anybody being found alive?
• ~ of sth Nowadays a premature baby has a very good chance of survival.
• The operation has a fifty-fifty chance of success.
• an outside chance (= a very small one)
• The chances are a million to one against being struck by lightning.
2. countable a suitable time or situation when you have the opportunity to do sth
• 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).
• ~ of sth We won't get another chance of a holiday this year.
• ~ to do sth Please give me a chance to explain.
• Tonight is your last chance to catch the play at your local theatre.
• ~ for sb to do sth There will be a chance for parents to look around the school.
3. countable 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.
4. uncountable 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.
• We'll plan everything very carefully and leave nothing to chance.
more at not have/stand a cat in hell's chance at cat, not have a dog's chance at dog n., have an even chance at even adj., with an eye for/to the main chance at eye n., fat chance at fat adj., a fighting chance at fight v., not have a snowball's chance in hell at snowball n., a sporting chance at sporting
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French cheance, from cheoir ‘fall, befall’, based on Latin cadere.
Thesaurus:
chance noun
1. C, U
• Is there any chance of getting tickets now?
possibility • • prospect • • odds • • likelihood • • probability •
a chance/a possibility/the prospect/the odds/the likelihood/a probability of/that…
little/no chance/possibility/prospect/likelihood
the chances/odds/likelihood/probability is/are that…
increase/reduce the chance/possibility/odds/probability/likelihood
2. C
• This is your big chance.
opportunity • • start • • possibilities • |informal break • |especially spoken moment • |especially business window •
a chance/the opportunity to do sth
have a/an chance/opportunity/break/moment/window
get/give sb a/an chance/opportunity/break/moment/start
take advantage of a chance/an opportunity/the possibilities/a window
Chance or opportunity? Opportunity tends to be more formal. In some cases only one of the words can be used:
• I won't give him a second chance.
¤ I won't give him a second opportunity.:
• job/equal opportunities
¤ job/equal chances
3. C
• The manager took a chance on a young, inexperienced player.
gamble • • risk •
take a chance/gamble/risk on sth
take a chance/risk with sth
a big chance/gamble/risk
Chance, gamble or risk? Risk is used especially when there is danger to life or sb's safety; gamble is used about less serious danger, or when you risk money. When you decide to give/not to give sb the opportunity to do sth, you take a chance/take no chances.
4. U, sing.
• We met by chance at the airport.
coincidence • • accident • • luck •
by chance/coincidence/accident/luck
pure/sheer chance/coincidence/accident/luck
a/an happy/unfortunate/strange chance/coincidence/accident
Synonyms:
luck
chance • coincidence • accident • fate • destiny
These are all words for things that happen or the force that causes them to happen.
luck • the force that causes good or bad things to happen to people: ▪ This ring has always brought me good luck.
chance • the way that some things happen without any cause that you can see or understand: ▪ The results could simply be due to chance.
coincidence • the fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way: ▪ They met through a series of strange coincidences.
accident • something that happens unexpectedly and is not planned in advance: ▪ Their early arrival was just an accident.
fate • the power that is believed to control everything that happens and that cannot be stopped or changed: ▪ Fate decreed that she would never reach America.
destiny • the power that is believed to control events: ▪ I believe there's some force guiding us— call it God, destiny or fate.
fate or destiny?
Fate can be kind, but this is an unexpected gift; just as often, fate is cruel and makes people feel helpless. Destiny is more likely to give people a sense of power: people who have a strong sense of destiny usually believe that they are meant to be great or do great things.
by …luck/chance/coincidence/accident
It's no coincidence/accident that…
pure/sheer luck/chance/coincidence/accident
to believe in luck/coincidences/fate/destiny
Example Bank:
• After a poor start, they are now in with a chance of winning the league.
• Are you by any chance Mr Ludd?
• As long as there is an outside chance, we will go for it.
• By a happy chance he bumped into an old friend on the plane.
• Chess is not a game of chance.
• Fat chance of him helping you!
• Given the chance, I'd retire tomorrow.
• He blew four of his seven save chances.
• He deserves the chance to give his side of the story.
• He didn't want to risk the chance of being discovered.
• He doesn't stand a chance of winning against such an experienced player.
• He had wasted a golden chance to make history.
• He had zero chance of survival.
• He realized that this might be his only chance to save himself.
• How do you rate our chances of finding her?
• I don't fancy our chances of getting there on time.
• I finally had the chance to meet my hero.
• I got most answers right through sheer chance.
• I rang the company just on the off chance that they might have a vacancy.
• I would welcome the chance to give my opinion.
• I wouldn't pass up the chance of working for them.
• If she let this chance slip, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
• It was a mistake which eliminated any chance of an Australian victory.
• Katie was his last real chance at happiness.
• Leaving nothing to chance, he delivered the letter himself.
• No child should be denied the chance of growing up in a family.
• She has every chance of passing the exam if she works hard.
• She played left-handed to give her opponent a fair chance.
• She spotted her chance of making a quick profit.
• Take every chance that comes your way.
• The doctors gave him little chance of surviving the night.
• The dog always runs off when it gets half a chance.
• The guide book didn't mention the hotel, but we decided to take a chance.
• The manager took a chance on the young goalkeeper.
• The missing climber's chances of survival are slim.
• The new college is intended to improve the life chances of children in the inner city.
• The police came upon the hideout purely by chance.
• The police were taking no chances with the protesters.
• The results could simply be due to chance.
• The teacher gave her one last chance to prove she could behave.
• The team created several clear chances but failed to score.
• There are no second chances in this business.
• There is a very real chance that the film will win an award.
• There is always an element of chance in buying a used car.
• There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that I'll wear that thing!
• There was only a million-to-one chance of it happening.
• There's a fair chance that nobody will come to the talk.
• They blew their chance to go second in the league.
• They have a 90 per cent chance of success.
• This is the ideal chance for him to show his ability.
• This is your big chance— grab it with both hands.
• Travis had left the door open— she seized her chance and was through it like a shot.
• What are his survival chances?
• When the chance came to go to Paris, she jumped at it.
• the variety with the best chance for success
• As chance would have it, John was going to London too.
• Jeff deceived me once already— I won't give him a second chance.
• Nowdays a premature baby has a very good chance of survival.
• The car might break down but that's a chance we'll have to take.
• There's a slight chance that she'll be back in time.
• We met by chance at the airport.
• We won't get another chance at a vacation this year.
• We'll plan everything very carefully and leave nothing to chance.
• When installing electrical equipment don't take any chances.
• You'll have the opportunity/chance to ask questions at the end.
Idioms: as chance would have it ▪ by any chance ▪ chance would be a fine thing ▪ chance your arm ▪ chances are … ▪ give somebody half a chance ▪ in with a chance ▪ no chance ▪ on the off chance ▪ stand a chance ▪ take a chance ▪ take your chances
Derived: chance on somebody
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
chance / tʃɑːns / / tʃæns / noun [ C ] (OPPORTUNITY)
B1 an occasion that allows something to be done:
I didn't get/have a chance to speak to her.
[ + to infinitive ] If you give me a chance to speak, I'll explain.
Society has to give prisoners a second chance when they come out of jail.
He left and I missed my chance to say goodbye to him.
I'd go now given half a chance (= if I had the slightest opportunity) .
→ Synonym opportunity
Word partners for chance (OPPORTUNITY)
give / offer sb a chance • get / have a chance • miss / pass up a chance • jump at / leap at / seize a chance • a second chance • a last chance • a rare chance • a chance of doing sth
Word partners for chance (POSSIBILITY)
an outside / slight / slim / small chance • a fair / fighting / good / realistic chance • be in with / have / stand a chance • lessen / minimize / reduce the chances of sth • improve the chances of sth • fancy sb's chances
chance / tʃɑːns / / tʃæns / noun [ S or plural ] (POSSIBILITY)
B1 the level of possibility that something will happen:
You'd have a better chance/more chance of passing your exams if you worked a bit harder.
[ + (that) ] There's a good chance (that) I'll have this essay finished by tomorrow.
There's a slim/slight chance (that) I might have to go to Manchester next week.
If we hurry, there's still an outside (= very small) chance of catch ing the plane.
"Is there any chance of speak ing to him?" " Not a/No chance, I'm afraid."
I don't think I stand/have a chance of winning.
UK John thinks they're in with a chance (= they have a possibility of doing or getting what they want) .
Her resignation has improved my chances of promotion.
What are her chances of survival?
[ + that ] What are the chances that they'll win?
→ Synonym likelihood
Word partners for chance (OPPORTUNITY)
give / offer sb a chance • get / have a chance • miss / pass up a chance • jump at / leap at / seize a chance • a second chance • a last chance • a rare chance • a chance of doing sth
Word partners for chance (POSSIBILITY)
an outside / slight / slim / small chance • a fair / fighting / good / realistic chance • be in with / have / stand a chance • lessen / minimize / reduce the chances of sth • improve the chances of sth • fancy sb's chances
chance / tʃɑːns / / tʃæns / noun [ C ] (RISK)
B2 a possibility that something negative will happen:
I'm delivering my work by hand - I'm not taking any chances.
There's a chance of injury in almost any sport.
→ Synonym risk noun
Word partners for chance (OPPORTUNITY)
give / offer sb a chance • get / have a chance • miss / pass up a chance • jump at / leap at / seize a chance • a second chance • a last chance • a rare chance • a chance of doing sth
Word partners for chance (POSSIBILITY)
an outside / slight / slim / small chance • a fair / fighting / good / realistic chance • be in with / have / stand a chance • lessen / minimize / reduce the chances of sth • improve the chances of sth • fancy sb's chances
chance / tʃɑːns / / tʃæns / noun (LUCK)
B1 [ U ] the force that causes things to happen without any known cause or reason for doing so:
Roulette is a game of chance.
I got this job completely by chance.
[ + (that) ] It was pure/sheer chance (that) we met.
We must double-check everything and leave nothing to chance.
by any chance C2 used to ask a question or request in a polite way:
Are you Hungarian, by any chance?
Could you lend me a couple of pounds, by any chance?
You wouldn't, by any chance, have a calculator on you, would you?
Word partners for chance (OPPORTUNITY)
give / offer sb a chance • get / have a chance • miss / pass up a chance • jump at / leap at / seize a chance • a second chance • a last chance • a rare chance • a chance of doing sth
Word partners for chance (POSSIBILITY)
an outside / slight / slim / small chance • a fair / fighting / good / realistic chance • be in with / have / stand a chance • lessen / minimize / reduce the chances of sth • improve the chances of sth • fancy sb's chances
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
chance
[tʃɑ͟ːns, tʃæ̱ns]
chances, chancing, chanced
1) N-VAR: oft N of -ing/n, N that If there is a chance of something happening, it is possible that it will happen.
Do you think they have a chance of beating Australia?...
This partnership has a good chance of success...
The specialist who carried out the brain scan thought Tim's chances of survival were still slim...
There was really very little chance that Ben would ever have led a normal life.
2) N-SING: usu N to-inf, N for n to-inf If you have a chance to do something, you have the opportunity to do it.
The electoral council announced that all eligible people would get a chance to vote...
Most refugee doctors never get the chance to practice medicine in British hospitals...
I felt I had to give him a chance.
3) ADJ: ADJ n A chance meeting or event is one that is not planned or expected.
...a chance meeting.
N-UNCOUNT
Chance is also a noun. ...a victim of chance and circumstance.
4) VERB If you chance to do something or chance on something, you do it or find it although you had not planned or tried to. [FORMAL]
[V to-inf] A man I chanced to meet proved to be a most unusual character...
[V to-inf] It was just then that I chanced to look round.
[V upon/on/across n] ...Christopher Columbus, who chanced upon the Dominican Republic nearly 500 years ago.
Syn:
happen to
5) VERB If you chance something, you do it even though there is a risk that you may not succeed or that something bad may happen.
[V it] Andy knew the risks. I cannot believe he would have chanced it...
[V n] He decided no assassin would chance a shot from amongst that crowd.
Syn:
risk
6) → See also off-chance
7) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl Something that happens by chance was not planned by anyone.
He had met Mr Maude by chance.
Syn:
by accident
8) PHRASE: PHR with cl (not first in cl) You can use by any chance when you are asking questions in order to find out whether something that you think might be true is actually true.
Are they by any chance related?
Syn:
perhaps
9) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR of -ing If you say that someone stands a chance of achieving something, you mean that they are likely to achieve it. If you say that someone doesn't stand a chance of achieving something, you mean that they cannot possibly achieve it.
Being very good at science subjects, I stood a good chance of gaining high grades...
Neither is seen as standing any chance of snatching the leadership from him.
10) PHRASE: V and N inflect When you take a chance, you try to do something although there is a large risk of danger or failure.
You take a chance on the weather if you holiday in the UK...
From then on, the Chinese were taking no chances...
Dennis was not a man to take chances.
Syn:
take a risk
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1chance /ˈʧæns, Brit ˈʧɑːns/ noun, pl chanc·es
1 : an opportunity to do something : an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done
[count]
• I wanted to call you, but I never got/had the chance (to).
• I go to the beach every chance I get. [=I go whenever I can]
• This is the chance of a lifetime!
• You missed your chance.
• Everyone deserves a fair chance of winning the award.
• If you give me a chance, I know I can do a good job.
• He doesn't give second chances. [=opportunities to try something again after failing one time]
• If given half a chance [=if given some opportunity], she could show everyone how talented she is.
- often followed by to + verb
• Here's your chance to try something new.
• Give me a chance to explain.
• You have to give the wound a chance to heal. [=you have to allow time for the wound to heal]
[noncount]
• We didn't have much chance to talk about it.
✦To jump/leap/grab at the chance to do something is to have an opportunity to do something and to say in an excited way that you will do it or to do it in a very eager way.
• She jumped at the chance to go to New York City.
✦If you have a fighting chance to do something, you may be able to do it by making a great effort.
• The patient still has a fighting chance to survive.
• Their help gave us a fighting chance to finish the project on time.
2 : the possibility that something will happen
[count]
• There's a good chance that we'll finish on time.
• There's still a slim chance [=a small possibility] that we can win.
• There's an outside chance [=a small possibility] that something could go wrong.
• Chances are [=it is very likely that] she has already heard the news.
- often + of
• It increases/reduces the chance of getting the disease.
• There's a 50 percent chance of rain this afternoon.
• (Brit, informal) The challenger may not have much experience, but I still think he's in with a chance of winning. [=he has a possibility of winning]
- often plural
• What are the chances [=how likely is it] that we'll have nice weather today?
• I think her chances of winning the election are good.
• “How do you think the team will do this year?” “I like their chances.” [=I think they have a good chance of succeeding/winning]
[noncount]
• If you are free tonight, is there any chance you could join me for dinner?
- often + of
• If you want to have any chance of getting the job, you'll have to dress nicely.
• The prisoners had little/no chance of escape/escaping.
✦The phrase by any chance is used when asking questions in a polite way.
• Are you free tonight, by any chance?
✦The informal phrases fat chance and not a chance are used as a forceful way of saying that there is no possibility that something will happen.
• “He says that he'll get here on time.” “Fat chance!”
• “Do you think they'll win?” “Not a chance!”
• Fat chance of that happening!
3 [noncount] : the way that events happen when they are not planned or controlled by people : luck
• There is an element of chance [=luck] to winning a card game.
• Which cards you're given is simply a matter of chance.
• We planned for everything and left nothing to chance. [=we prepared for everything possible]
• That's not the kind of thing you want to leave to chance. [=that's not the kind of thing you don't want to plan or prepare for]
✦If something happens by chance, people have not planned it or tried to make it happen.
• By (pure/sheer) chance, I saw him again at the grocery store.
• We found the house entirely by chance.
✦The phrase as chance would have it is used to say that something happened because of good or bad luck.
• Our car broke down on the road, but as chance would have it [=as it turned out], there was a garage nearby.
✦A game of chance is a game (such as a dice game) in which luck rather than skill decides who wins.
• Games of chance are illegal in some states.
chance would be a fine thing Brit informal
- used to say that something good or desirable is not likely to happen
• This candidate promises to solve all the country's financial problems in six months. Chance would be a fine thing! [=if only that were possible]
on the off chance
- used to talk about something that might happen or be true but that is not likely
• I called his office on the off chance that he would still be there [=I called because I thought there was a slight chance that he would still be there], but he had already left.
stand a chance : to have a possibility of succeeding
• The team stands a chance of doing well this year.
• I think she stands a good chance of winning the election.
- often used in negative statements
• He doesn't stand a chance against the champion.
• She stands no chance of winning. [=she has no chance of winning]
take a chance : to do something that could have either good or bad results
• She's trying to find a publisher who will take a chance on her book. [=will publish her book without knowing for certain that it will succeed]
• It might not work, but it's a chance we'll have to take.
• I'm not willing to take that chance.
• He said he couldn't afford to take any chances.
• He's not afraid to take chances. [=to do things that are risky or dangerous]
• She was taking no chances. = She wasn't taking any chances.
• “You might not succeed.” “I know, but I'll take my chances anyway.”
