fair shake

noun

Informal.

1. an equitable opportunity or treatment.

   The judges promised that every entrant in the contest would get a fair shake.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair shake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

Vance is partially right, but FDR ultimately succeeded because he understood that the stability of American democracy depends not just on paying the bills, but on equality and equity — of everyone having a fair shake at paying them.

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But if our crumbling democracy means anything, even insufferable warmongers deserve a fair shake.

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Most voters agreed that slavery still affects today’s Black residents, and more than half said California is either not doing enough, or just enough, to ensure a fair shake at success.

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Then Mamdani would get a fair shake, and so would the rest of us.

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“They're just interested in making sure that everybody's got a fair shake to get to it.”

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