on the chance that

Idioms  

1. On the possibility that, as in I came early on the chance that we might have time to chat. This phrase uses chance in the sense of “a possibility or probability for some event,” a usage dating from the late 1700s. It is sometimes put as on the off chance, meaning “on the slight but unlikely possibility,” as in I came late on the off chance that I could avoid Thomas. The addition of off in the sense of “remote” dates from the mid-1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the chance that

You’d be betting on the chance that someone will be willing to pay more than you did for an inherently worthless investment, because they think someone will pay more than they did, and so forth.

From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2024

Growing worried, Mike filed a missing persons report, while their mother began calling police stations and jails on the chance that Jason had been picked up overnight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2024

It’s easy for an airline to put down a small amount of money on the chance that a startup pulls it off and restarts the era of supersonic travel.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2022

But on the chance that Brady gets the urge to play again?

From Washington Times ● Feb. 1, 2022

Would he feign the role of a suffering lover, on the chance that we would be seen?

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein