fighting chance, a
fighting chance
A small possibility to succeed or overcome a situation. David wanted to give his marriage a fighting chance so he agreed to go to counseling with his wife. If I'm going to have a fighting chance to pass this test, I'm going to have to study all night.
See also: chance, fight
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
fighting chance
a good possibility of success, especially if every effort is made. They have at least a fighting chance of winning the race. The patient could die, but he has a fighting chance since the operation.
See also: chance, fight
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
fighting chance
A possibility of winning, but only with a struggle. For example, It's going to be hard to beat that record, but I think he has a fighting chance. [Late 1800s]
See also: chance, fight
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
a ˌfighting ˈchance
a slight but real chance of succeeding, avoiding something, etc: With five minutes of the game left, our team still has a fighting chance of winning. Things don’t look very hopeful for John Brown in the presidential elections, but he’s still in with a fighting chance.See also: chance, fight
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
fighting chance, a
A possibility of success through great effort. An Americanism dating from the late nineteenth century, this phrase has been used in a large variety of contexts. For example, “Free school breakfasts and lunches will give these inner-city children a fighting chance of graduating,” or “Hunting with a bow and arrow gives the deer a fighting chance.”
See also: fight
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- a fighting chance
- fighting chance
- have a fighting chance
- impossible
- achieve the impossible
- be past it
- be/look past it
- kick a habit
- kick the/(one's) habit
- shake a/the habit