chance victory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chance victory" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing the possibility of winning or succeeding by luck or random circumstances, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "In the final moments of the game, the team managed to secure a chance victory, surprising everyone."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That in itself spoke volumes, although he confessed that, compared with his 2013 Tour win, this one felt far less secure; in 2013, he said, he had not approached the final climb on the final Saturday feeling there was a chance victory might elude him.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A chance for victory?

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Taylor has a good chance of victory.

The Economist

Certainly, Mr Walesa has no chance of victory.

The Economist

No other team had a mathematical chance of victory.

The New York Times

It simply represents the underdog's best chance of victory.

The New Yorker

"This would give an extra chance for victory".

The New York Times

No one believes the party has a chance of victory.

Independent

His final forecast gave Obama a 90.9% chance of victory.

The Guardian

Donald Trump starts the day with an 11percentt chance of victory.

The New York Times

I don't think either have much chance of victory.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "chance victory", ensure the context clearly indicates that the victory was achieved through luck or unforeseen circumstances. Avoid using it when skill or strategy played a significant role.

Common error

Avoid attributing a "chance victory" when the win was primarily due to skill, strategy, or effort. Using the phrase in such contexts can undermine the achievements of those involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chance victory" functions as a noun phrase. It describes a specific type of victory that is attributed to luck or unforeseen circumstances rather than skill or strategy. As seen in Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "chance victory" describes a win primarily attributed to luck or unforeseen circumstances. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not commonly used, with only a few examples available. News & Media is the predominant context, where it conveys that success resulted from fortune rather than deliberate skill. For increased clarity, alternatives such as "lucky win" or "fluke victory" may be preferred in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lucky win

Replaces "chance" with "lucky", emphasizing the role of good fortune in achieving victory.

fluke victory

Substitutes "chance" with "fluke", suggesting an unexpected or improbable victory.

fortuitous win

Replaces "chance" with "fortuitous", highlighting the accidental or coincidental nature of the victory.

accidental triumph

Replaces both words to denote an unplanned and unexpected success.

unexpected win

Emphasizes the surprise element of the victory, suggesting it was not anticipated.

serendipitous victory

Highlights the fortunate discovery or coincidence that led to the win.

victory by luck

Explicitly states that the victory was due to luck rather than skill or planning.

random success

Shifts focus to the success aspect, emphasizing its random or unpredictable nature.

unforeseen triumph

Focuses on the lack of anticipation surrounding the victory.

improbable win

Highlights the low probability or unlikelihood of achieving the victory.

FAQs

What does "chance victory" mean?

A "chance victory" refers to a win that is largely due to luck, unforeseen circumstances, or random events rather than skill or planning. It implies that the victory was not expected or easily predictable.

Is "chance victory" a common phrase?

No, "chance victory" is not a particularly common phrase. Alternatives like "lucky win" or "fluke victory" are more frequently used to describe a victory achieved through luck.

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

You can use "chance victory" to describe a situation where the outcome was heavily influenced by luck. For example: "Despite their poor performance, the team secured a "chance victory" due to a last-minute error by their opponents."

What are some alternatives to "chance victory"?

Alternatives to "chance victory" include "lucky win", "fortuitous win", "fluke victory", or "unexpected win". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.