an obvious chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an obvious chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a clear opportunity or possibility that is easily recognized. Example: "In the final minutes of the game, the team had an obvious chance to score but missed the goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Guardian staff EwanMurray 10 April 2013 2 45pm @Army90 - Snedeker is widely quoted and putts brilliantly, which gives him an obvious chance.

The Guardian - Sport

He is just 3lb higher in the weights after his first success over fences at Taunton last month, giving him an obvious chance to follow up.

The Guardian - Sport

Matthew has not exactly pulled up any tees in the last 12 months, although has performed consistently enough to remain in the world's top 20 and goes in with an obvious chance.

Independent

As an RSA Chase winner starting out off a mark of 160, he has an obvious chance of beginning his quest for a third Cheltenham Festival success by outclassing rivals with little pretension, between them, to Gold Cup calibre.

Independent

Teaforthree has an obvious chance of becoming the first home winner since 1965, clearly primed for this since his success at the Festival last March, but hardly offers value.

Independent

The main business of a company called Command Security Corporation, based in upstate New York, was hiring out security guards, and an association with Rudy Giuliani offered an obvious chance to heighten its profile and trade on his name.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Needless to say, Grands Crus has a far more obvious chance – but the bookmakers have noticed as much, and he is a very short price for a horse with just four chases to his name, all in single-figure fields.

Independent

In the modern era those on the bench troop off every day with the rest – they play their football, they hit some catches and throw some balls to those engaged in the Test match, they rush on to the field with drinks at every opportunity, they traipse off to the nets for one more lonely knock in the knowledge that there is no obvious chance of an innings in the middle on the horizon.

The Guardian - Sport

The diamond jack was the obvious chance of a 13th, but there were extra possibilities.

The New York Times - Arts

"Hamstrings are a very delicate injury and it would be a massive gamble, with the obvious chance of it tearing and him being out for the remainder of the season.

Independent

But in terms of opportunities missed and markets swiped out from under you, I stand by my view that Politico's rise has cost the Post its best, most obvious chance at a financially-stable transition to the online era.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your language by using synonyms like "clear opportunity" or "evident prospect" to avoid repetition and enhance the impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "an obvious chance" in highly nuanced or ambiguous situations where the opportunity isn't immediately clear, as this can oversimplify the situation and mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an obvious chance" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "obvious" modifies the noun "chance". It identifies and describes a particular kind of opportunity or possibility. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase highlights readily apparent opportunities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an obvious chance" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that highlights a readily apparent opportunity or possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts, serving to emphasize clear potential. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to slightly informal registers, and synonyms like "clear opportunity" or "distinct possibility" may be preferable in formal settings. To avoid misuse, ensure the opportunity is genuinely apparent to your audience. This comprehensive analysis, supported by Ludwig's data, provides a clear understanding of how to effectively incorporate "an obvious chance" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a clear opportunity

Replaces "chance" with "opportunity", emphasizing the favorable set of circumstances.

a distinct possibility

Substitutes "chance" with "possibility" and "obvious" with "distinct", highlighting the likelihood of something occurring.

an evident prospect

Replaces "chance" with "prospect", indicating anticipation, and "obvious" with "evident", both meaning easily seen.

a plain opening

Uses "opening" in place of "chance", suggesting an available opportunity and "plain" instead of "obvious" which indicates clarity.

a manifest occasion

Replaces "chance" with "occasion", indicating a suitable time, and "obvious" with "manifest", emphasizing clarity and unmistakable nature.

a patent opportunity

Uses "patent" to replace "obvious", suggesting something clear and recognizable, paired with "opportunity".

a transparent prospect

Replaces "obvious" with "transparent", indicating something easily seen through or understood, combined with "prospect".

a noticeable possibility

Uses "noticeable" instead of "obvious" to suggest something easily observed combined with "possibility".

a recognizable opportunity

Replaces "obvious" with "recognizable" to suggest ease of identification when referencing an opportunity.

a straightforward opportunity

Uses "straightforward" to replace "obvious" to suggest a lack of complexity when referencing an opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "an obvious chance" in a sentence?

You can use "an obvious chance" to describe a situation where an opportunity is easily recognizable. For example: "The open net provided "an obvious chance" for the striker to score."

What's a more formal alternative to "an obvious chance"?

In more formal contexts, you might consider using phrases like "a clear opportunity" or "a distinct possibility" instead of "an obvious chance".

How does "an obvious chance" differ from "a good chance"?

"An obvious chance" implies the opportunity is easily seen and recognized by everyone. "A good chance", on the other hand, suggests a reasonable likelihood of success, but not necessarily one that is plainly visible.

Is it ever incorrect to use "an obvious chance"?

While grammatically correct, using "an obvious chance" might be inappropriate if the opportunity is not, in fact, clear to everyone involved. In such cases, "a potential opportunity" or "a possible chance" might be more accurate.