fat chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"fat chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal expression used to refer to something that is highly unlikely to happen. Example: "Do you think I could win the lottery? Fat chance!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Fat chance," you say.

The New York Times

Fat chance, Jamie.

Independent

Fat chance of that.

The New York Times

"I certainly don't!" Fat chance.

The New York Times

Fat chance, medical experts say.

The Economist

Fat chance of that now.

The New York Times

Fat chance on that one.

The New York Times

Fat chance, boys.

The New York Times - Books

Fat chance, Fernando.

The New York Times - Sports

(Fat chance, she thought).

The New Yorker

Fat chance, I thought.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fat chance" to express skepticism or disbelief about a particular outcome. It's best suited for informal settings or when you want to add a bit of sarcasm to your response.

Common error

Avoid using "fat chance" in professional or academic writing. Its informal tone can undermine the seriousness of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fat chance" functions as an idiomatic expression used to express disbelief or to dismiss the likelihood of a particular event or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression conveys skepticism, similar to saying 'not a chance'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fat chance" is an idiomatic expression used to express disbelief or the unlikelihood of something happening. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although it's best suited for informal contexts. It functions as a dismissive statement, emphasizing skepticism. While widely used in news and media, it should be avoided in formal or professional writing. Alternatives such as "no way" or "highly unlikely" are more appropriate for formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no way

A straightforward, emphatic refusal or expression of impossibility.

not a chance

Very similar in meaning, directly negating any possibility.

when pigs fly

Humorous and hyperbolic, indicating something will never happen.

no possibility

A more formal way to state that something is impossible.

highly unlikely

Expresses a low probability of occurrence.

slim chance

Indicates a very small possibility.

not in a million years

Emphasizes the extreme unlikelihood of an event.

it's a long shot

Suggests that success is possible, but not probable.

there's no hope

A pessimistic expression indicating no expectation of a positive outcome.

forget about it

Informally dismisses the possibility of something happening.

FAQs

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

You can use "fat chance" to express your disbelief that something will happen. For example, "Do you think he'll apologize? Fat chance!"

What does "fat chance" mean?

The idiom "fat chance" means that there is very little or no possibility of something happening. It's a way of saying something is unlikely.

What can I say instead of "fat chance"?

Alternatives to "fat chance" include "no way", "not a chance", or "highly unlikely" depending on the context.

Is "fat chance" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "fat chance" is an informal expression and is not appropriate for formal writing. Use more formal alternatives like "highly improbable" or "unlikely" in those contexts.