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

See Examples For:

fighting chance

“Then he has a fighting chance to work his way back. Trying to do everything — even at a lesser dosage — just wasn’t feasible.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

And, he reckons, there is a fighting chance that his or another French company will be that winner.

From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2026

And that meant that Barron’s stockpickers stood a fighting chance when it came to beating the market.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

If I can take down the other two, then we might have a fighting chance.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland