Collocations for chance - noun
1. possibility
ADJECTIVE
excellent,
good,
high,
real,
strong
There is a very real chance that the film will win an award.
There is a very real chance that the film will win an award.
decent,
fair,
fighting,
legitimate,
realistic,
reasonable,
solid,
sporting
There's a fair chance that nobody will come to the talk.
There's a fair chance that nobody will come to the talk.
little,
the merest,
million-to-one,
minimal,
outside,
remote,
slender,
slight,
slim
There was only a million-to-one chance of it happening.
As long as there is an outside chance, we will go for it.
There was only a million-to-one chance of it happening.
As long as there is an outside chance, we will go for it.
fifty-fifty,
one-in-three, etc.,
10%, 20%, etc.
They have a 90% chance of success.
They have a 90% chance of success.
zero
(esp. AmE)
He had zero chance of survival.
He had zero chance of survival.
survival
What are his survival chances?
What are his survival chances?
election,
electoral
(esp. BrE)
play-off (AmE)
play-off (AmE)
VERB + chance
give sb
The doctors gave him (= said that he had) little chance of surviving the night.
The doctors gave him (= said that he had) little chance of surviving the night.
be in with,
have,
stand
After a poor start, they are now in with a chance of winning.
He doesn't stand a chance of winning against such an experienced player.
After a poor start, they are now in with a chance of winning.
He doesn't stand a chance of winning against such an experienced player.
assess,
rate
How do you rate our chances of finding her?
How do you rate our chances of finding her?
fancy
(BrE)
I don't fancy our chances of getting there on time.
I don't fancy our chances of getting there on time.
boost,
enhance,
improve,
increase,
maximize
compromise, decrease, hurt, jeopardize, lessen, minimize, prejudice, reduce, ruin, scupper (BrE,informal), spoil
destroy, eliminate, end, kill
It was a mistake which eliminated any chance of an Australian victory.
compromise, decrease, hurt, jeopardize, lessen, minimize, prejudice, reduce, ruin, scupper (BrE,informal), spoil
destroy, eliminate, end, kill
It was a mistake which eliminated any chance of an Australian victory.
risk
He didn't want to risk the chance of being discovered.
He didn't want to risk the chance of being discovered.
PREPOSITION
by any chance
Are you by any chance Mr Ludd?
Are you by any chance Mr Ludd?
chance of
The missing climber's chances of survival are slim.
The missing climber's chances of survival are slim.
chance for
the variety with the best chance for success
the variety with the best chance for success
PHRASES
fat chance
(informal)
Fat chance (= there is no chance) of him helping you!
Fat chance (= there is no chance) of him helping you!
have every chance
She has every chance of passing the exam if she works hard.
She has every chance of passing the exam if she works hard.
no chance!
‘Will he lend us his car?’ ‘No chance!’
‘Will he lend us his car?’ ‘No chance!’
not a snowball's chance in hell
(informal)
There isn't a snowball's chance in hell (= there is no chance) that I'll wear that thing!
There isn't a snowball's chance in hell (= there is no chance) that I'll wear that thing!
on the off chance
(= just in case)
I rang the company just on the off chance that they might have a vacancy.
I rang the company just on the off chance that they might have a vacancy.
2. opportunity
ADJECTIVE
equal,
fair,
good,
great,
ideal,
wonderful
She played left-handed to give her opponent a fair chance.
This is the ideal chance for him to show his ability.
She played left-handed to give her opponent a fair chance.
This is the ideal chance for him to show his ability.
big
This is your big chance, so grab it with both hands.
This is your big chance, so grab it with both hands.
golden
He had wasted a golden chance to make history.
He had wasted a golden chance to make history.
once-in-a-lifetime,
rare,
unique
only
He realized that this might be his only chance to save himself.
only
He realized that this might be his only chance to save himself.
final,
last,
second
The teacher gave her one last chance to prove she could behave.
There are no second chances in this business.
The teacher gave her one last chance to prove she could behave.
There are no second chances in this business.
educational,
life
The new college is intended to improve the life chances of children in the inner city.
The new college is intended to improve the life chances of children in the inner city.
clear,
clear-cut,
save (AmE),
scoring
(all sports)
He blew four of his seven save chances.
He blew four of his seven save chances.
VERB + chance
get,
have
I finally had the chance to meet my hero.
I finally had the chance to meet my hero.
deserve
He deserves the chance to give his side of the story.
He deserves the chance to give his side of the story.
enjoy,
relish,
welcome
I would welcome the chance to give my opinion.
I would welcome the chance to give my opinion.
afford (sb),
give sb,
offer (sb),
provide (sb with)
deny sb
No child should be denied the chance of growing up in a family.
deny sb
No child should be denied the chance of growing up in a family.
await,
wait for
create, make (sports)
The team created several clear chances but failed to score.
create, make (sports)
The team created several clear chances but failed to score.
see,
spot
She spotted her chance of making a quick profit.
She spotted her chance of making a quick profit.
grab,
grasp,
jump at,
seize,
take
Travis had left the door open—she seized her chance and was through it like a shot.
Take every chance that comes your way.
Travis had left the door open—she seized her chance and was through it like a shot.
Take every chance that comes your way.
blow (informal),
forfeit,
lose,
miss,
pass up,
squander,
throw away,
turn down,
waste
They blew their chance to go second in the league.
I wouldn't pass up the chance of working for them.
They blew their chance to go second in the league.
I wouldn't pass up the chance of working for them.
chance + VERB
arise,
come,
come your way
When the chance came to go to Paris, she jumped at it.
When the chance came to go to Paris, she jumped at it.
PREPOSITION
chance at
Katie was his last real chance at happiness.
He had been given a new chance at life.
Katie was his last real chance at happiness.
He had been given a new chance at life.
PHRASES
given the chance
Given the chance, I'd retire tomorrow.
Given the chance, I'd retire tomorrow.
half a chance
The dog always runs off when it gets half a chance.
The dog always runs off when it gets half a chance.
let a chance slip,
let a chance slip away
If she let this chance slip, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
If she let this chance slip, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
3. risk
VERB + chance
take
The guidebook didn't mention the hotel, but we decided to take a chance.
The guidebook didn't mention the hotel, but we decided to take a chance.
PREPOSITION
chance on
The manager took a chance on the young goalkeeper.
The manager took a chance on the young goalkeeper.
chance with
The police were taking no chances with the protesters.
The police were taking no chances with the protesters.
4. luck/fortune
ADJECTIVE
mere,
pure,
sheer
random
happy, lucky
By a happy chance he bumped into an old friend on the plane.
random
happy, lucky
By a happy chance he bumped into an old friend on the plane.
unlucky
VERB + chance
leave sth to
Leaving nothing to chance, he delivered the letter himself.
Leaving nothing to chance, he delivered the letter himself.
PREPOSITION
by chance
The police came upon the hideout purely by chance.
The police came upon the hideout purely by chance.
due to chance
The results could simply be due to chance.
The results could simply be due to chance.
through chance
I got most answers right through sheer chance.
I got most answers right through sheer chance.
PHRASES
a game of chance
Chess is not a game of chance.
Chess is not a game of chance.
take your chances
(= take a risk in the hope that things will turn out well)
He took his chances and jumped into the water.
He took his chances and jumped into the water.