stand a chance

Idioms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Opposing points of view don’t stand a chance.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

Carrick needs players to stand a chance of achieving it.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

There are concerns that small quantum start-ups don’t stand a chance against industry giants like IBM.

From Barron's • May 21, 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

He longed for rest, but he knew that he had to see to his arm, or he wouldn’t stand a chance.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023