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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.

In a statement read to the court, another of the daughters said her mother made the "sensible" choice to use the zebra crossing but "did not stand a chance" due to Stokoe's choices.

From BBC • May 15, 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

Among the 11 candidates, a record number, two others also stand a chance to win a spot in the second round.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

I’m sure he thought he didn’t stand a chance against two vicious hounds and a big hunter.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

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