abandon chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abandon chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is suggesting to give up on the possibility of something happening or to stop relying on luck. Example: "In order to succeed, we must abandon chance and focus on our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Apart from those urging Darwin to give up chance in favor of design, he had pressure to abandon chance from another direction, the evolutionary philosophy of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She spoke to The New York Times recently about her decision to release a song about being raped as child and about why she decided to abandon a chance to study neurobiology at Penn State for a career in music.

The New York Times

We see her abandon a chance for romance in favor of her family's survival, and in the novel's most breathtaking chapter, she considers a sacrifice that will kill her.

The Washington Post

Writer gives a step by step account of the last sessions: how agreements were finally reached, and the actions of the U.S. In the end, the Reagan Administration abandoned the chance of getting most of what it wanted if it could not get it all.

The New Yorker

At the eleventh hour prosecutors appealed one of the judge's rulings, and abandoned a chance to go to trial.

Huffington Post

Whether you are in the bookshop or ordering an ebook (in which case, both versions will be delivered to your device), you get to choose, or to abandon yourself to chance.

The Guardian - Books

And if I decide to abandon those services, chances are I can't easily take my data with me.

The Guardian - Tech

Don't be afraid to improvise or even abandon this method, chances are someone will call you out on this style of arguing.

WikiHow

The capture of Mosul gives him the chance to abandon Shia triumphalism and to form a government for all Iraqis, including moderate Sunnis and Kurds.

The Economist

Their new star leader, Kevin Rudd, has already committed to allowing Australians a second chance to abandon the Crown in favour of an Australian head of state.

The Guardian - Opinion

But with its whaling fleet in need of refurbishing and consumer interest in whale meat low, some observers said the court ruling might give the government the chance to abandon an expensive programme - and improve its international standing.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abandon chance", ensure the context clearly indicates a shift from relying on luck or randomness to a more deliberate or strategic approach. For example, "To achieve consistent results, we must "abandon chance" and implement a robust plan".

Common error

Avoid using "abandon chance" to imply simply giving up. It should convey a conscious decision to pursue a different, more controlled strategy, not a passive acceptance of failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abandon chance" functions as a verb phrase, where "abandon" is a transitive verb and "chance" is its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct, suggesting its use in sentences where a conscious decision to move away from relying on luck is emphasized.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

13%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abandon chance" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate a deliberate shift away from relying on luck toward more strategic methods. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and best used to describe a situation where a conscious decision is made. While not very frequent, its usage appears in varied contexts, predominantly within news and media, but also in academic and business settings. When using "abandon chance", be sure to convey a move toward a different strategy rather than a resignation. Similar phrases include "give up on luck" and "forsake opportunity".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give up on luck

Replaces "chance" with its direct synonym "luck" to simplify the expression.

shun luck

Offers a shorter, more direct way to express avoidance of reliance on luck.

forsake opportunity

Substitutes "abandon" with "forsake" and "chance" with "opportunity", emphasizing a deliberate rejection.

stop trusting luck

Emphasizes the cessation of reliance on chance occurrences.

relinquish hope

Focuses on surrendering the expectation of a favorable outcome.

disregard probability

Highlights ignoring the statistical likelihood of success.

dismiss fortuity

Uses more formal synonyms to convey a similar meaning with increased sophistication.

reject randomness

Emphasizes the rejection of unpredictable elements or outcomes.

eschew serendipity

Replaces "chance" with "serendipity" to convey a similar meaning related to fortunate accidents.

renounce fate

Indicates a rejection of destiny or predetermined outcomes.

FAQs

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

You can use "abandon chance" to describe a situation where you stop relying on luck and start using a more strategic approach. For example: "To succeed in this market, we must "abandon chance" and focus on data-driven decisions".

What does it mean to "abandon chance"?

To "abandon chance" means to stop depending on luck or random occurrences and instead rely on planning, skill, or strategy to achieve a goal.

Which is a better phrase, "abandon chance" or "mitigate risk"?

"Abandon chance" indicates a decision to stop relying on luck, whereas "mitigate risk" implies reducing the potential for negative outcomes. The better phrase depends on whether you're changing your approach or trying to lessen potential harm.

What's the difference between "abandon chance" and "leave to fate"?

"Abandon chance" suggests actively moving away from luck-based strategies, while "leave to fate" implies accepting whatever outcome may occur without intervention. They are near opposites.