stand a chance

Idioms  

1. Have a possibility or a hope of success, as in Do you think Mary stands a chance of finishing the marathon? or I think we stand a fair chance of seeing the Queen arrive at Buckingham Palace. This idiom was first recorded in 1796. Also see not have an earthly chance.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stand a chance

Opposing points of view don’t stand a chance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

"To show people that if they take action and publicly voice their opposition, they actually stand a chance" of winning.

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

In an AI era when attackers can jiggle every virtual doorknob continuously, human defenders don’t stand a chance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026

Let’s take a closer look at the list to try to assess whether the demands actually stand a chance of making a material difference in how ICE uses—and abuses—its vast power over immigration enforcement.

From Slate ● Feb. 19, 2026

And without their best player, the Bandits didn’t stand a chance.

From "The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)" by Franklin W. Dixon