WOTW: chance

| - Gorka Dieitz-Sanxurxo |

triplo word of the week - chance

 

今週の #WOTW は 'chance’ です。’Chance’ is one of those English words that can be different parts of the speech: it’s noun, an adjective, and a verb. It’s very common to use it in set expressions and phrases of which we will give you some examples below. Let’s start with the noun.

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- There’s a chance of rain tomorrow. (A possibility of something happening.)

- What are her chances of becoming the country’s Prime Minister? (In its plural form, the probability of something desirable happening.

- Just give me a chance. I know I can do this. (In singular, an opportunity to do or achieve something.)

- I found the restaurant by chance. Now I go there every other week. (The occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause.)

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Time for the adjective.

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- It was a chance meeting, but we got married one month later. (Fortuitous, accidental.)

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And the verb goes like this:

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- I chanced to overhear that you’re from New York? I live there for a while… (Do something by accident or without intending to.)

- I chanced upon a dinosaur egg. Well, at least I think it’s one… (Find or see by accident. You can also use ‘across’ or ‘on’ instead of ‘upon’.)

- I didn’t have time to study, but I chanced it and I passed! (Do something despite its being dangerous or of uncertain outcome.)

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There are quite a few phrases using ‘chance’ too.

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- [on the off chance] I took an umbrella on the off chance. (Just in case.)

- [take a chance] I had never ridden a horse before, but it was the only means of transportation available, so I took a chance. (Behave in a way that leaves one vulnerable to danger or failure.)

- [take a chance on] I could do the job if only my boss took a chance on me. (Put one's trust in something or someone knowing that it may not be safe or certain.)

- [as chance would have it] As chance would have it, I was preparing to go to work when I remembered it was Sunday. (As it happened.)

- [no chance] No chance I’m doing that. (This is informal. There is no possibility of that.)

- [be in with a chance] He just turned 40, but he is still in with a chance of winning the championship with his team. (Have the possibility of success or victory.)

- [chance would be a fine thing] Chance would be a fine thing, but I doubt I’ll find a decent flat in the centre. (This is informal British English. It expresses a speaker's belief that something is desirable but the opportunity is unlikely to arise.)

- [take one's chance] I know the part is for a girl, but I’ll just take my chance and go to the audition anyway. (Do something risky with the hope of success.)

- [stand a chance]
A: Who do you think will win tomorrow?
B: Oh, Osaka. The other player doesn’t stand a chance. (Have a prospect of success or survival.)

- [by any chance] Are you Sarah by any chance? (Possibly. Used in tentative questions or suggestions.)

- [chance one's arm] She’s way out of my league, but I’ll chance my arm and talk to her anyway. (This is informal British English. It means to do something although it may be dangerous or unsuccessful.)

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発音は/tʃɑːns/です。北アメリカ英語で、/tʃæns/。後ろには「う」を言わないようにしてください。また来週!

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