a minute chance

USAGE SUMMARY

'a minute chance' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it as a way to describe a very small or slim chance or possibility. For example, "There is a minute chance that the train will be on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Years later, in retrospect, you realize what a minute chance we had to pull that off.

Vice

There is a minute chance that that's true, unless you are Edith Piaf, and if you are, I can't wait to see you.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If you stand on the sidewalk for a minute, chances are good that several 15-foot vans, unmarked vehicles with black-tinted windows, will career down the one-way street.

The New York Times

England winger Jess Clarke had a 33rd minute chance to celebrate her 24th birthday with a goal but shot straight at Chamberlain.

BBC

Midfielder Carney, sent on straight after the break, fluffed a simple 52nd minute chance but two minutes later rounded keeper Sonja Cevnik to slide the ball home.

BBC

The minute chance of a split-second side eye glance from another man who may, in his private life, be naked with his boyfriend, is clearly far more stressful.

Huffington Post

(AP) ELIZABETH: FURLOUGH FOR CRIME CHIEF A federal judge gave the imprisoned boss of New Jersey's DeCavalcante crime family a late Christmas present -- a 15-minute chance to say a final goodbye to his late wife.

The New York Times

Gashi wasted a 56th-minute chance, slicing a shot on his weaker right foot, and worried Navas when sending a header over the bar.

Independent

De Bruyne took his goal well, even if he had looked offside to begin a trend while Yaya Touré dragged a 15th-minute chance wide and Hugo Lloris saved from Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling and Aleksandar Kolarov.

The Guardian - Sport

A last-minute chance to explore Istanbul, a city I have longed to visit, came just on the heels of the Erdogan-Peres contretemps at Davos, and I leapt at it, if leaping can be measured in six thousand miles.

Huffington Post

The rest of the game in brief: Wayne Rooney was substituted early, Vardy missed a 90th-minute chance to either score or set up a winner.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minute chance" when you want to emphasize how small or unlikely a possibility is. It's particularly effective when contrasting it with a more expected or desired outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "a minute chance" when a more realistic possibility exists. Overusing it can diminish the impact and credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minute chance" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a very small or unlikely possibility, as confirmed by Ludwig.

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 minute chance" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a very small or unlikely possibility. As shown in Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While its frequency is rare, using it effectively can add nuance to your writing. Be sure to consider alternative phrases if you want to vary your expression or suit a different tone. According to Ludwig, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slim chance

Changes the adjective to emphasize the thinness or slightness of the possibility.

a slight chance

Replaces 'minute' with 'slight', indicating a small degree of possibility.

a small chance

Substitutes 'small' for 'minute', highlighting the limited size or extent of the chance.

a remote possibility

Emphasizes the distance or unlikelihood of the event occurring.

a faint hope

Shifts the focus to hope, implying a very weak or uncertain prospect.

a negligible probability

Uses more formal language to indicate a near-zero chance of something happening.

a vanishing opportunity

Focuses on the disappearing nature of the chance rather than its size.

an outside shot

Uses an idiomatic expression to suggest a chance that is unlikely but still possible.

a snowball's chance in hell

Emphasizes that the chance is incredibly low, and borderline impossible.

a prayer

It suggests that success is only possible through divine intervention.

FAQs

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

You can use "a minute chance" to describe an unlikely possibility. For instance, "There's "a minute chance" that the project will be approved, but we should still prepare thoroughly."

What is an alternative to saying "a minute chance"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a slim chance", "a slight chance", or "a remote possibility", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more correct to say "a minute chance" or "a small chance"?

Both "a minute chance" and "a small chance" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you want to place on the unlikelihood. "A minute chance" emphasizes how incredibly small or unlikely the possibility is, while "a small chance" is more neutral.

When should I use "a minute chance" versus "a snowball's chance in hell"?

Use "a minute chance" when you want to express that a possibility is very unlikely but still technically possible. In contrast, "a snowball's chance in hell" is an idiom used to emphasize that something is virtually impossible.