fighting chance

noun

1. a possibility of success following a struggle.

fighting chance

noun

1. a slight chance of success dependent on a struggle

Word History and Origins

Origin of fighting chance¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Perhaps it’s smart politics to play within the system, to give the policies you care about a fighting chance, to not alienate the guy in charge before he’s even taken office.

From Slate

England came into the deciding ODI with their confidence boosted after a thrilling win in the second game in Antigua and they gave themselves a fighting chance at the halfway point after an excellent recovery with the bat.

From BBC

Dan Schnur, a political science professor at Pepperdine, UC Berkeley and USC who previously ran statewide campaigns, said that Garvey would have been a competitive candidate in a state where Republicans have a fighting chance.

From Los Angeles Times

“There are not that many rivers that are going to be able to sustain salmon through time with climate change, and I think that this really gives us a fighting chance.”

From Los Angeles Times

He told the Times newspaper there was “no risk free options available” but probation officials had been given a “fighting chance” to get it right by the way the scheme’s implementation had been planned over the summer.

From BBC