sporting chance

noun

1. an even or fair opportunity for a favorable outcome in an enterprise, as winning in a game of chance or in any kind of contest:

   They gave the less experienced players a sporting chance by handicapping the experts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporting chance¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

That gives law enforcement a sporting chance before the shooting begins.

From The Daily Beast

If Obama wins, there's at least a sporting chance on certain issues that middle-class and working-class people won't get screwed.

From The Daily Beast

Several interesting schemes were therefore invented to give the men at least a sporting chance of getting to safety.

From Project Gutenberg

If the master is such an arrant ass as to let you crib, it is his own lookout; and, after all, we take the sporting chance.

From Project Gutenberg

I had spotted a white wrist back of a gleam of polished metal and, taking a sporting chance, I let drive.

From Project Gutenberg

Not that he had any hope, but it was only fair to give even the most abandoned of mankind a sporting chance.

From Project Gutenberg

However, with the storm increasing and the long dark night ahead, we took a sporting chance, and ran direct in on the cliffs.

From Project Gutenberg