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

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

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

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

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