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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

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

Still, early on he appeared to recognize that without U.S. intervention, the most vulnerable people in the country did not stand a chance against cholera.

From Salon

“You’re the one who might be able to get through to Nyame. Between you and him, Nansi doesn’t stand a chance.”

From Literature

Mr Parkinson met senior MPs on Wednesday, and is reported to have told them the government's evidence fell "5%" short of what would have been required to stand a chance of getting a conviction.

From BBC

Their past three tours have been lost without winning a match and Langer thinks the tourists will have to be aggressive to stand a chance on the tour which starts with the first Test in Perth on 21 November.

From BBC

"How was I going to stand a chance against everyone else that's had a bit more of a leg up and a bit more of an advantage than me, in terms of personal networks and knowledge?"

From BBC