| 释义 |
▪ I. chance, n. (and a.)|tʃɑːns, -æ-|
Forms: 3 cheance, 3–4 cheaunce, 4 Sc. chanss, 3–7 chaunce, 4 chauns(e, chanse, 4–5 chawnce, 4–6 chans, 4– chance.
[ME. chea(u)nce, a. OF. cheance (= Pr. cazensa, It. cadenza):—late L. cadentia falling, f. cadent- falling, pr. pple. of cad-ĕre to fall: cf. cadence.]
A. n.
I.
1. a. The falling out or happening of events; the way in which things fall out; fortune; case.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 465 To come..to helpe is moder, that was her ofte in feble chaunce. a1300Cursor M. 10690 Þe biscop þam þe chauns tald, Qui he did þam sembled be. 1528More Heresyes iv. Wks. 273/1 As he would haue made y⊇ contrary choyse, if he had foresene in them the contrary chaunce. 1551–6Robinson tr. More's Utop. 89 If chaunce be that..the stoore increase. 1870Bryant Iliad xviii. 388 The chance of war Is equal, and the slayer oft is slain.
b. A happening or occurrence of things in a particular way; a casual or fortuitous circumstance; = accident n. 1 b.
1375Barbour Bruce xx. 58 Fesnyng of frendschip and of pess, That neuir for na chanss suld cess. 15..Cokwolds Daunce 105 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 43 That was thruȝht a chans. 1611Bible 1 Sam. vi. 9 It was a chance that happened to vs. 1614Bp. Hall Heaven upon Earth §18 It is a chance, if ever riches were good to any. 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugg. ii. i. 5 'Tis a curious chance that the looms should be all four quiet. 1884Church Bacon 112 It was a chance that the late Chief-Justice and his wife..did not meet on the road.
2. (with pl.) A matter which falls out or happens; a fortuitous event or occurrence; often, an unfortunate event, mishap, mischance; = accident n. 1 a, c. arch.
a1300Cursor M. 28055 Mani sinful chances þat mai fall. c1300Beket 2494 Al his cheänces that he hadde By Tywesdai hi come. 1460Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 199 If þou wolt..charite kepe in eche chaunce. 1529More in Four C. Eng. Lett. 12 There shall no poore neighbour of mine bere no losse by any chance happened in my house. 1549Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, All the changes and chances of this mortal life. 1671Milton Samson 656 The bearing well of all calamities, All chances incident to man's frail life. 1709Strype Ann. Ref. I. xxxii. 330 A lamentable chance happened. Sir Tho. Finch..taking ship at Rye..[was] lost with the ship. 1859Tennyson Enid 1658 Ye surely have endured Strange chances.
†3.
a. That which befalls a person; (one's) hap, fortune, luck, lot. Obs. or arch.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 14 Hym þouȝte þe ymage in hys slep tolde hym hys cheance. c1374Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 345 My destinye or chaunce. 1549Coverdale Erasm. Par. Coloss. i. 3 It hath not yet hitherto been my chaunce to see you. 1601Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 177 If it be thy chance to kill me. 1674Playford Skill Mus. i. xi. 53 It was my chance lately to be in company with three Gentlemen.
b. in the game of Hazard.
c1386Chaucer Pard. T. 325 Seuene is my chaunce, and thyn is cynk and treye.
4. a. An opportunity that comes in any one's way. Often const. of. Also pregnantly = chance or opportunity of escape, acquittal, or the like. (Often passing into sense 5.)
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 468 The king let Henri is sone, as God ȝef the cheaunce, Lowis doȝter spousi. 1611Shakes. Cymb. v. iv. 132, I That haue this Golden chance, and know not why. 1725N. Robinson Th. Physick 254 The Cholera..gives the Patient scarce a single Chance for his Life, if those Symptoms are not speedily mitigated. 1774Burke Corr. (1844) I. 470 A change of climate is his only chance. 1843Carlyle Past & Pr. (1858) 250 Thou hadst one chance, thou wilt never have another. 1869J. Martineau Ess. II. 3 Hitherto the moral sciences have had no fair chance. 1883Lloyd Ebb & Fl. II. 153 This is the second chance Milly's thrown away. 1885Manch. Exam. 6 May 5/1 A peace which is not cemented with blood has the best chance of permanency. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. III. xciii. 296 In prosecutions for gambling or the sale of intoxicants a defendant had no chance before them [sc. a jury composed of women].
b. A quantity or number; used with adjs., as fine, nice, smart. U.S. dial.
1805Ordway Jrnl. 8 Dec. (1916) 316 The men returned with a fine chance of Elk meat. 1819D. Thomas Trav. 230 (Th.), A considerable quantity is expressed by a smart chance; and our hostess at Madison said there was a smart chance of Yankees in that village. 1878J. H. Beadle Western Wilds xiv. 212 Fine chance o' corn planted, an' doin' well. 1939These are our Lives (U.S.) 68, I have a nice chance o' chickens.
c. Cricket. An opportunity of dismissing a batsman, given to a fieldsman by the batsman's faulty play; chiefly in phr. to give a chance.
1832Brighton Gaz. 19 July 3/4 Mr. J. W. Osborne..did not give a chance, and was not put out in either innings. 1883Standard 3 Aug. 6/5 The second half of his innings was disfigured by two chances. 1899W. G. Grace Cricketing Remin. 241 A matter of a few inches converts a chance into a boundary hit. 1929A. A. Milne Those were the Days 732, I hear already long-on insisting It wasn't a chance that came to hand. 1970Guardian 4 May 25/6 Lloyd's innings also contained some risks, but he never gave a real chance until he was out.
5. a. A possibility or probability of anything happening: as distinct from a certainty: often in plural, with a number expressed. b. Math. = probability; so also theory or doctrine of chances.
1778T. Jones Hoyle's Games Impr. 153, I would know how many Chances there are upon 2 Dice..The Answer is 36. 1785Reid Int. Powers 626 The doctrine of chances is a branch of mathematics little more than an hundred years old. 1841–4Emerson Ess. xix. Wks. (Bohn) I. 239 Unless the chances are a hundred to one that he will cut and harvest it. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 215 There was no chance that..the scheme..would be supported by a majority. 1879Lubbock Sci. Lect. i. 7 The chances against any given grain reaching the pistil of another flower are immense.
6. Absence of design or assignable cause, fortuity; often itself spoken of as the cause or determiner of events, which appear to happen without the intervention of law, ordinary causation, or providence; = accident n. 2.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 144 b, In cases of chaunce or vncertaynty. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 160 b, Those whiche..doe committe the successes of thynges to happe hazard, and blynd chaunce. 1641Brome Jov. Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 389, I ha' not so much Wealth to weigh me down, Nor so little (I thank Chance) as to daunce naked. 1722Wollaston Relig. Nat. v. 83 Chance seems to be only a term, by which we express our ignorance of the cause of any thing. 1802Paley Nat. Theol. xii. §2 (1819) 198 A conformation so happy was not the gift of chance. 1841–4Emerson Ess. xiv. Wks. (Bohn) I. 183 The ancients, struck with this irreducibleness of the elements of human life to calculation, exalted Chance into a divinity. 1846Mill Logic iii. xvii. §2 It is incorrect to say that any phenomenon is produced by chance; but we may say that two or more phenomena are conjoined by chance..meaning that they are in no way related through causation.
II. Phrases.
7. by chance:
a. As it falls or fell out; without design; casually, accidentally, incidentally, haply; by any chance = perchance adv. 3.
c1315Shoreham 60 And ȝef the man other that wyf By cheaunce doumbe were. c1400Destr. Troy 108 Pelleus..hade a wyfe..Tetyda she heght: Þes gret in þere gamyn gate hom betwene, Achilles, by chaunce. 1535Coverdale 2 Sam. i. 6, I came by chaunce vnto mount Gelboa. 1559Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk xxiv. 4 Encountred me upon the seas by chaunce. 1571R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 122 Not obiter and bichance, but purposelie. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 53 Sometime by chance a blind man may catch a hare. 1711Addison Spect. No. 126 ⁋8 If by chance the Coachman stopped at a wrong Place. 1875H. E. Manning Mission H. Ghost ii. 41 Some book that you picked up, as you say, by chance. 1914‘Ian Hay’ Knight on Wheels x, Are you engaged to be married, by any chance?
†b. Perchance, perhaps, maybe. Obs.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 6 b, Thou mayst lese thy goodes..and also by chaunce the helth of thy body.
†c. At random, anyhow. Obs.
1669Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. i. 29 From the given Point C, to the Line AB, draw a Line by chance.
†8. in, through, with chance: = by chance (see 7 a). of chance: (a) = by chance (7 a); (b) = on the chance (10). Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 6771 If þis ahut be stoln in [Fairf. wiþ] chanse. Ibid. 7171 Thoru chance he fand an assban. Ibid. 1514 (Fairf.) Cayme he sloghe wiþ [Trin. bi] chance. 1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 59 Þer fader & þei o chance togider gan mete. Ibid. 207 Þe kyng..atires him gode nauie Tille Inglond, ochance to wynne it with maistrie.
†9. for any chance: for anything that might happen, in any event, anyhow, ever. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 245 (Gött.) Seldom was for ani chance Englis tong preched in france. Ibid. 5575 (Fairf.) May na mon for nankin chaunce for-do þat lordes puruyaunce.
10. on the chance: acting on the chance or possibility (of or that{ddd}); see sense 5.
11. to take one's chance:
a. to take what may befall one, submit to whatever may happen; to ‘risk it’. So † to stand to one's chance (obs.).
b. To seize one's opportunity (see 4).
a1300Land Cokaygne 184 in E.E.P. (1862) 161 Ye stond to yure cheance. c1325Lai le Freine 107 Me is best take mi chaunce. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 86 Wishing rather to stande to thy chaunce, than to the choyce of any other. 1595Shakes. John i. i. 151 Brother, take you my land, Ile take my chance. 1596― Merch. V. ii. i. 38 You must take your chance. 1611― Cymb. iv. ii. 382 Wilt take thy chance with me? 1791Smeaton Edystone L. §98 To take the chance of the morning's tide. 1847Tennyson Princ. iii. 127 We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance.
c. to take a chance or chances: to take a risk or risks. orig. U.S.
1902S. G. Fisher True Hist. Amer. Rev. 311 Washington thought himself justified in taking the chances rather than abandon New York without a blow. 1904N.Y. Even. Post 24 Oct. 12 Passengers on stalled trains took chances with the third rail, and getting off walked to the nearest station. 1912H. Croly Marcus Alonzo Hanna 99 In the beginning he may have taken some long chances in order to accelerate the progress of the firm. 1930L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs x. 247 Caverhill tried to get them into a paddock with a rowdy bull, but they noticed just in time that he was not taking any chances himself. 1931J. T. Adams Epic of America vii. 187 The American had always been ‘taking a chance’.
12. the main chance:
†a. The chief or paramount issue, the most important eventuality. Obs.
b. That which is of chief importance; now esp. the chance of enriching oneself or of getting gain, one's own interests; in such phrases as to mind, provide for, have an eye to the main chance. (A cant phrase in 1699, and still partaking of that character. Perhaps from the game of Hazard: see further under main.)
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 104 Either content yourself with my choice, or lette mee stande to the maine chaunce. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iii. i. 83 A man may prophecie With a neere ayme, of the maine chance of things, As yet not come to Life. c1645Howell Lett. (6 Jan. 1625), [Bacon] scarce left any money..which did argue no great wisdom, it being..a property of a wise man to provide for the main chance. a1677J. Harrington Syst. Politics x. 512 The Master..that either keeps himself up to his antient bounds, or increases his Stock, looks very well to the main chance. 1699B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Eye, Tis good to have an Eye to the main Chance. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. I. 79 Bubalion..thinks himself wise, and passeth for one that minds the main chance. 1832Macaulay Burghley, Ess. (1854) 221/2 He had..a constant eye to the main chance.
13. to stand a (good, fair) chance: see stand.
1796Morse Amer. Geog. II. 108 He..hardly stood a chance of becoming a beggar. 1885Manch. Exam. 12 Nov. 5/1 The Ministry..stand a good chance of seeing themselves reduced to insignificance.
B. attrib. or as adj. That occurs or is by chance; happening to be such; casual, incidental. (Often unnecessarily hyphened.)
1676Manch. Crt. Leet Rec. (1888) VI. 15 John Sherdley Butcher for sellinge of two chance cowes vis. viiid. 1722De Foe Plague (1884) 18 My Dealings were..not by a Shop or Chance Trade. 1727Swift What passed in Lond. Wks. 1755 III. i. 179 There were five chance auditors. 1833H. Martineau Tale of Tyne i. 2 The chance amusements of former days. 1860W. Collins Wom. in White iii. i. 427, I parted with my chance companion. 1868I. Saxon 5 Yrs. Golden Gate 181 Chance gains. 1883Lloyd Ebb & Fl. II. 77 A chance paragraph in a book.
C. as adv. By chance, perchance, haply. arch.
(In some of the examples chance may be a verb.)
1595Maroccus ext. 20, I may chance of these and more leave a deeper print. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 12 It may chance cost some of us our lives. 1704Swift Batt. Bks. (1711) 265 If chance her Geese be scatter'd over the Common. 1818Byron Ch. Har. iv. lxvii, While, chance, some scatter'd water-lily sails. 1849Lowell Biglow P. Poet. Wks. (1879) 167 Lest some mischief may chance befall them.
D. in comb., usually in attrib. or adv. relation (cf. B), = by chance, casual, -ly; as chance-comer, chance-hit, chance-hurt, chance-shot; chance-dropped, chance-meeting, chance-poised, chance-ravelled, chance-sown, chance-taken, chance-won, ppl. adjs.; chance-come, chance-given, chance-like, chance-met, chance-seen adjs.; also chance-bairn, -child, an illegitimate child; chance lot, a lot (of land or other commodity) constituted not by design, but as an incident of other operations; chance-wise adv., by chance, casually. See also chance-medley.
1863Atkinson Danby Provinc., *Chance-bairn, an illegitimate child.
1838Dickens O. Twist v, No *chance-child was he, for he could trace his genealogy all the way back to his parents.
1923Blunden To Nature 44 Formed not These the *chance-come charm that bade me worship then?
1711Addison Spect. No. 131 ⁋8 A man..does not care for sacrificing an Afternoon to every *Chance-comer. 1832Lyell Princ. Geol. II. 77 A variety of species may..thrive there and then perish, and be followed by other chance-comers like themselves.
1887Smiles Life & Labour 153 By some *chance-correct reply.
1835Talfourd Ion i. i, Liberal words *chance-dropped.
1811Shelley Let. 15 Dec. (1964) I. 153 My *chance-given property. 1925J. Gregory Bab of Backwoods i. 9 Here, chance-given, was Farley's opportunity.
1882W. B. Scott Poet's Harv. Home 36 Ears..*Chance-hearing that fate-laden song.
1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxvii, Jeanie's last *chance-hit..obliterated the ill impression which had arisen from the first.
1711Shaftesbury Charact. (1737) II. 420 A *chance-hurt? an accident against thought, or intention?
1851Melville Moby Dick II. xvii. 138 An unearthly, formless, *chance-like apparition of life.
1888Scotsman 8 Feb. 3/6 *Chance-lot Feus, convenient to Cars and N.B. and Cal. Railway.
1649Drummond of Hawthornden Cypress Grove Wks. (1711) 120 Imaginary cities raised in the sky by *chance-meeting clouds.
1892Kipling Lett. of Travel (1920) 100 Young men—*chance-met in the streets. 1901― Kim vii. 176 A chance-met Rajah's elephant.
1923― Irish Guards in Gt. War I. p. viii, A *chance-seen act of bravery.
1667Denham Direct. Paint. i. xii. 32 A *chance-shot sooner took him.
1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xix, No sapling, *chance-sown by the fountain.
1830Kinglake Eothen 293 He lets him rave for a season, but all *chance-wise, of people, and things once dear. 1861Wheat & Tares 388 If I died, sir, I should not like her to hear of it chance-wise.
1887Proctor Chance & Luck 162 Greed for *chance-won wealth.
▸ is there any chance of——? and variants: (in direct and indirect questions) is—— likely or possible? what hope is there of——? Freq. used (esp. colloq. in shortened form: any chance of——?) as an active attempt to persuade or cajole: may I have——?
1782F. Burney Cecilia II. iv. vii. 222 He would at least acquaint her other guardians with what had passed, whose business it would be to enquire if there was any chance of redress. 1819Scott Bride of Lammermoor I. vii, Well, Caleb, my old friend, is there any chance of supper? 1882R. Jefferies Bevis III. iii. 50 ‘Any chance of our being taken off and rescued?’ ‘Not the least.’ 1914J. Joyce Dubliners 155 ‘Is there any chance of a drink itself?’ asked Mr O'Connor. 1946F. Cook Mrs. Palmer's Honey vi. 60 From his inner pocket he brought out some note cards... ‘Any chance of a preview?’ Tom asked. ‘None whatever.’ 1968C. Bukowski Let. 23 Sept. in Screams from Balcony (1998) 335, I wonder if there is any chance of getting hold of these, preferably in the original? 1979Economist 20 Jan. 89 (caption) Any chance of some leadership? 1991M. Ripley Angel Hunt 35 ‘Any chance of a lift?’ I said OK and we wandered out. 1999C. Aherne et al. Royle Family Scripts: Series 2 (2000) Episode 3. 66 Is there any chance of a brew here?.. I'm bloody gagging.
▸ Brit. colloq.chance would be a fine thing and variants: it would be good if something (stated or implied) were true or likely, but it is not; the opportunity is unlikely to arise.
Typically used as a rejoinder, expressing rueful or ironic resignation.
1912W. S. Houghton Hindle Wakes I. i. 21 Why didn't you get wed?.. There is plenty would have had you. Chance is a fine thing. Happen I wouldn't have wed them. 1950W. Graham Jeremy Poldark ii. iv. 240 What man did not at some time or another glance elsewhere; and who could complain if it remained at a glance? (Chance was a fine thing). 1969Times 26 Apr. 22/4 Perhaps it is only cowards and slaves who say that ‘chance would be a fine thing’. 1982M. Leigh Goose-pimples ii, in Abigail's Party & Goose-pimples (1983) 133 You can't say we're exactly involved, you and me, can you, eh?.. Not yet, anyway. Eh? Chance'd be a fine thing, eh? 1991M. Nicholson Martha Jane & Me (1992) xxiv. 196 He would slap her on the bottom and say, ‘Chance would be a fine thing, eh Martha?’ 2001Guardian (Nexis) 30 July (Office Hours) 2 To sleep, perchance to dream... Well, chance would be a fine thing.
▸ Chiefly Brit.to be in with a chance and variants: to have a chance of success or victory.
1929M. M. Belden Dramatic Work Samuel Foote i. v. 36 While her husband was waiting for the title that would make her a countess, she fell in with a chance to become a duchess by marrying Evelyn Pierrepont, Duke of Kingston. 1982P. Redmond Brookside (Mersey TV shooting script) Episode 1. 34 Try to keep them going until the end of the season—we're in with a chance for the Association Cup this year. 1986Independent 17 Nov. 19/4 Sir Jeremy is in with a strong chance. 1991M. Tully No Full Stops in India (1992) ix. 268 They were going on to university, and that meant they were in with a chance of getting a government job. 1996L. Al-Hafidh et al. Europe: Rough Guide (ed. 3) II. xiii. 649/1 Men travelling alone..may even find it impossible to get a lift. Men and women travelling together are at least in with a chance.
▪ II. chance, v.|tʃɑːns, -æ-|
Forms: 4–6 chaunce, chaunse, 4–7 chanse, 6– chance.
[f. prec. n.]
1. intr. To come about by chance; to happen, occur, fall out, come to pass.a. with the event as subject, expressed either by a n. preceding the verb, or by a clause following it, the verb being then preceded by it, as ‘It chanced that I saw’. arch.
1393Gower Conf. III. 163 Flaterie passeth alle..For upon thilke lot it chaunceth To be beloved now a day. c1400Destr. Troy 13777 When Troylus..was turnyt to ground By Achilles, as chaunset of þat choise kyng. 1526Tindale Mark ii. 23 It chaunced that he went thorowe the corne feldes. 1535Coverdale Phil. i. 19 Y⊇ same shal chaunce to my Saluacion. 1546Primer Hen. VIII, 122 Let a more plenteous fruitfulnes chaunce. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 57 All thinges that chaunce in heauen and earth. 1577Holinshed Chron. III, This slaughter chanced on a saturdaie. 1611Bible 1 Cor. xv. 37 Bare graine, it may chance of wheat. 1815Scott Guy M. xxxi, Three days ago chanced an occurrence of a nature which alarmed me. 1863Kinglake Crimea II. iii. 74 Whenever it chanced that the feelings of the people were roused.
†b. followed by an indirect obj. (dative); the event being expressed as in sense a, or by infinitive following it. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 12305 Pollexena..Thurgh whom Achilles, þe choise kyng, chansit his end. 1535Joye Apol. Tindale 46 Yt chaunced me to turne here and there. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 122 It chaunced him that as he passed through Oxfoorde, the schollers picked a quarrell unto his servauntes. 1581Marbeck Bk. of Notes 6 All those things that should chance him. 1596Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 12 At last him chaunst to meete upon the way A faithlesse Sarazin. 1611Bible Deut. xxiii. 10 By reason of vncleannesse that chanceth him.
c. with the indirect object of sense b changed into grammatical subject; followed by inf. expressing the event. (e.g. ‘Him chanced to come’, ‘He chanced to come’: cf. happen.) Somewhat arch.
c1400Destr. Troy 7701 Than Achilles with a chop chaunset to sle Philles. 1551–6Robinson tr. More's Utop. (Arb.) 124 Yf anything in her body afterward should chaunce to offend and myslyke them. 1553Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 5 There chaunsed..to come to my handes, a shiete of printed paper. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. i. 209 If she chance to nod, Ile raile and brawle. 1628Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 11 Where any discord chanced to arise. 1711Budgell Spect. No. 77 ⁋6, I chanced the other Day to go into a Coffee-house. 1867Trollope Chron. Barset II. xlvi. 23 If he chanced to be at home.
2. To happen to come, come by chance (on or upon; also formerly with other prepositions). Somewhat arch. (Cf. happen.)
1536in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 139 He chaunced under an arche of y⊇ bridge where y⊇ water was very shallowe. 1548–63J. Bale Sel. Wks. 156 But this chancellor, belike, chanced upon that blind popish work. 1551–6Robinson tr. More's Utop. (Arb.) 66 Chaunsynge into the company of them. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 64 At the last chaunced upon the right key, and so opened the gate. 1630Wadsworth Sp. Pilgr. ii. 6 Wee chanced on a..shippe..bound for Callis. 1856Ruskin Mod. Paint. IV. v. xviii. §10 Every one of the forms that Flaxman has chanced upon.
†3. To speed, have luck (of some kind). Obs.
(In quot. 1553 perh. = to speed badly: cf. to mischance.)
1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Kk viij, Wryte to me..if thy wyfe Dyorsilla chaunced welle of the flote that came out of Cetin. 1553Sir E. Montagu in Fuller Ch. Hist. viii. i. §2 What was best to be done for the safeguard of his life, which was like to chance in that fury and great anger presently.
4. a. trans. To risk, venture, take one's chance of. colloq.
1859Farrar Eric 323 Oh! chance the towels. We can run about till we're dry. 1870A. R. Hope Schoolboy Fr. 77 Never mind; we'll chance it. 1879–80Rep. Attorn. Gen. of Pennsylv., Very few would chance the pains and penalties of perjury to save a few dollars of taxes.
b. Slang phr. and chance the ducks: come what may; anyhow, anyway.
1874Hotten Slang Dict. 113 Chance the ducks, an expression signifying come what may. ‘I'll do it, and chance the ducks.’ 1924B. Gilbert Bly Market 12 ‘Mackenzie Quick says the old man's breaking up.’ ‘He wasnt last Sunday week, and chance the ducks.’
c. colloq. phr. to chance one's arm: to perform an action in the face of probable failure; to take one's chance of doing something successfully. Similarly to chance one's mit.
1889Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang I. 236/1 Chance your arm (tailors), try, let it go, chance it. 1899Daily News 13 Nov. 7/1 B. P. says ‘to chance your arm’ means to risk a court-martial which has the power to take all the pretty pretties off a man's sleeve. I first heard the phrase in 1886. 1919War Slang in Athenæum 8 Aug. 728/1 ‘Chancing his mit’ means risking a great deal, or playing a losing hazard. 1926Westm. Gaz. 7 Jan., If such people as this defendant can chance their arm in this way, amateur sport is not going to be kept pure. 1927Daily Express 10 June 9/3 Joanna [Southcott] seems to have chanced her arm, so to speak, in her prophecy of the end of the world, which she fixes as due to happen on June 31 next. 1959Economist 27 June 1152/2 Mr. Macmillan may have no more by-elections in this Parliament by which to judge when to chance his arm.
¶5. how chance was formerly used in questions for ‘how chances it that’, ‘how is (was) it that’.
Here chance takes no inflexion, and almost assumes the character of an adverb. Cf. chance n. C.
a1555Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 156 How chance you go not to the service upon the holy-days? 1590Marlowe Edw. II, i. iv. 564 How chance this was not done before? 1598Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 230 How chance you went not with Mr. Slender? 1606― Tr. & Cr. iii. i. 151 How chance my brother Troylus went not? |