fighting chance

American  

noun

1. a possibility of success following a struggle.

---

fighting chance British  

noun

1. a slight chance of success dependent on a struggle

---

fighting chance Idioms  

1. A possibility of winning, but only with a struggle. For example, It's going to be hard to beat that record, but I think he has a fighting chance. [Late 1800s]

---

Etymology

Origin of fighting chance

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Second-bottom Burnley have a fighting chance as almost half the teams in their position at Christmas have stayed up, although the only time that's happened in the past eight seasons was when Eddie Howe led Newcastle to 11th in 2021-22.

From BBC

None of these are guaranteed to work but they will give you a fighting chance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Maresca's men, back in the Champions League after two years away, have now won three of their first five games to give themselves a fighting chance of finishing in the top eight.

From Barron's

Above it, you had a fighting chance,” he says.

From MarketWatch

The 23-year-old's double in a 2-0 triumph against Portugal on Thursday night gave Heimir Hallgrimsson's side a fighting chance of qualifying for the World Cup through March's play-offs.

From BBC