a dim chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"a dim chance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to express something that is unlikely or unlikely to succeed. For example: "Although his chances of winning the race are slim, there is still a dim chance he could come out victorious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There was a dim chance that the reliably tight-lipped "X-Files" creator Chris Carter might actually reveal something about the film -- maybe even the title.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Senate on Tuesday killed a bipartisan bill to overhaul Congress' campaign finance laws, dashing already dim chances for a successful end this year to the 25-year drive to curb spending and special-interest influence on House and Senate elections.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Patrick Ewing's already dim chances of winning a title would die instantly.

The New York Times - Sports

The company still had money to run the business for a few years, but with the offer from Nest and the dim chances surrounding the next funding round, it make sense to move on.

TechCrunch

Eventually, the dim chances of today's youth might even have a long-term effect that is much more severe.

Huffington Post

A study by the National Committee on the Employment of Youth has found very dim chances for advancement by paraprofessionals, tens of thou sands of whom have been hired as needy, promising indi viduals during the last four years.

The New York Times

Zaragoza's dim chances of remaining in the first division were handed another setback with a 1-1 tie against Osasuna.

The New York Times - Sports

All the more reason for Republicans to go to their senior bench rather than injecting a young firebrand that might inflame the Democratic base and boost its turnout, further limiting the GOP's already dim chances.

Huffington Post

And there is the threat, echoed by Moscow, that any such attack would scupper already-dim chances of a political settlement through peace talks in Geneva.

BBC

LAKELAND, Fla .— The growing sentiment around baseball takes a dim view of the Yankees' chances in 2013, what with the losses of key players like Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Rafael Soriano, plus injuries to Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

The New York Times

Although punters have taken a dim view of South Easter's chances, allowing him to remain a 50-1 shot, Callan says he took a shine to the chestnut colt from the first moment he saw him.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a dim chance", ensure the context clearly conveys the low probability without completely dismissing the possibility. It's useful when acknowledging a small hope amidst unfavorable circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "a dim chance" when there is absolutely no possibility of success. This phrase implies a slight hope, so ensure the situation warrants that minimal optimism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dim chance" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI points out, it conveys a low probability or unlikelihood of something occurring.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dim chance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a low probability or unlikelihood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable expression in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to temper expectations while acknowledging a sliver of possibility. While phrases like "a slim chance" or "a slight possibility" can be used as alternatives, "a dim chance" specifically emphasizes the reduced likelihood of a successful outcome. When employing this phrase, ensure the context appropriately conveys the minimal level of optimism it implies, and avoid using it in situations where no possibility exists at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outside chance

Implies the chance is so unlikely it's barely considered.

a slight possibility

Emphasizes the small degree of possibility.

a remote possibility

Highlights the unlikelihood and distance of the possibility.

a slim hope

Focuses on the minimal amount of hope associated with the situation.

a faint glimmer of hope

Stresses the weak and uncertain nature of the hope.

a negligible probability

Indicates that the probability is so small it can be disregarded.

a minimal prospect

Conveys that the chance is barely worth considering.

a long shot

Denotes a chance with very low odds of success.

a doubtful opportunity

Suggests that the opportunity is questionable and unlikely to materialize.

a far-fetched hope

Emphasizes the unreality and implausibility of the hope.

FAQs

How can I use "a dim chance" in a sentence?

"A dim chance" is used to describe a situation where success is unlikely but not entirely impossible. For example, "Despite the setbacks, there's still "a dim chance" of the project succeeding."

What's the difference between "a dim chance" and "a slim chance"?

Both "a dim chance" and "a slim chance" indicate low probability, but "a slim chance" often suggests a slightly better prospect than "a dim chance". The latter implies an even more reduced likelihood of success.

Are there any synonyms for "a dim chance"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "a slight possibility", "a remote possibility", or "an outside chance" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "there's a dim chance that" or "there is a dim chance of"?

Both are grammatically correct. "There's a dim chance that" is followed by a clause (e.g., "there's a dim chance that it will rain"), while "there is a dim chance of" is followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., "there is a dim chance of success").