neglect a chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neglect a chance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to failing to take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself. Example: "He regretted that he chose to neglect a chance to invest in the promising startup."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Dream School," a series beginning Monday night at 10 on the Sundance Channel, offers 15 Los Angeles dropouts — 17- and 18-year-olds whose educational trajectories were sidelined by pregnancy, bullying and neglect — a chance to start over by gleaning information, and not a little inspiration, from superstars.

The New York Times - Arts

10 P.M. (Sundance) DREAM SCHOOL This series created by Jamie Oliver, with the rapper 50 Cent as an executive producer, offers 15 Los Angeles dropouts — 17- and 18-year-olds who were set off course by pregnancy, bullying and neglect — a chance to start over with help from superstars.

The New York Times - Arts

10 P.M. (Sundance) DREAM SCHOOL This series created by Jamie Oliver, with the rapper 50 Cent as an executive producer, offers 15 Los Angeles dropouts — 17- and 18-year-olds whose educational trajectories were sidelined by pregnancy, bullying and neglect — a chance to start over by gleaning information, and not a little inspiration, from superstars in their fields.

The New York Times - Arts

10 P.M. (Sundance) DREAM SCHOOL This series created by Jamie Oliver, with the rapper 50 Cent as an executive producer, offers 15 Los Angeles dropouts — 17- and 18-year-olds who were set off course by pregnancy, bullying and neglect — a chance to start over by gleaning information, and not a little inspiration, from superstars.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To discard computers that could be used by others — at your school, at other schools, at a community center — neglects a chance to do good and squanders public funds.

The New York Times - Magazine

So with access to college, fewer undocumented families will be caught in the impoverished undertow of society's neglect and given a chance to pull themselves into the middle class.

Huffington Post

It is as if in his eagerness to show his characters' resilience, Vega Yunqué neglected to give them a chance to react.

The New York Times - Books

The shelter, Mr. Isibor said recently, was intended to "help the less fortunate young adolescents that have been neglected or abused, to give them a chance.

The New York Times

"Let's seize the opportunity to put Labour back on the front foot and back in touch," he said, adding that such reforms gave a chance to end the neglect of Britain's poorest communities most affected by immigration.

The Guardian

But he has already made the point by giving us a chance to hear this neglected Rossini work.

The New York Times - Arts

As the conversation winds down, I'm aware I've neglected to give the two men much of a chance to interact in a humorous fashion.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs like "squander" or "overlook" if you want to emphasize the degree of carelessness or the accidental nature of missing the opportunity.

Common error

Avoid using "neglect a chance" when a simple oversight or lack of awareness is the primary issue. The phrase implies a degree of carelessness or deliberate disregard, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neglect a chance" functions as a verb phrase expressing the failure to take advantage of an opportunity. It is formed by the verb "neglect" followed by the indefinite article "a" and the noun "chance". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neglect a chance" is a grammatically sound but relatively uncommon expression used to describe the failure to capitalize on an opportunity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it typically conveys criticism or regret and is suitable for neutral contexts such as news articles and general writing. While not as frequent as alternatives like "miss an opportunity", it provides a specific nuance suggesting carelessness or disregard. Remember to use it when the failure to act is significant and implies potential negative consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

miss an opportunity

Focuses on the absence of seizing an opportunity.

overlook an opportunity

Highlights the accidental nature of not noticing the opportunity.

fail to capitalize on an opportunity

Emphasizes the failure to take advantage of a favorable situation.

pass up an opportunity

Suggests a deliberate but perhaps unwise decision to forgo an opportunity.

squander an opportunity

Implies a wasteful or careless loss of an opportunity.

forego an opportunity

Indicates a voluntary act of abstaining from an opportunity.

disregard a possibility

Highlights ignoring a potential course of action or benefit.

ignore a prospect

Focuses on not paying attention to a potential future benefit.

shun a possibility

Suggests actively avoiding a potential beneficial outcome.

waste a golden opportunity

Emphasizes the loss of a valuable and exceptional chance.

FAQs

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

You can use "neglect a chance" to describe someone failing to take advantage of an opportunity. For example, "He regretted that he chose to "neglect a chance" to invest in the promising startup."

What can I say instead of "neglect a chance"?

You can use alternatives like "miss an opportunity", "overlook an opportunity", or "fail to capitalize on an opportunity" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "neglect an opportunity" or "neglect a chance"?

Both "neglect an opportunity" and "neglect a chance" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Chance" suggests a more informal or fortuitous opportunity, while "opportunity" is more general and formal.

What's the difference between "neglect a chance" and "miss a chance"?

"Miss a chance" implies simply failing to take advantage of an opportunity, while "neglect a chance" suggests a degree of carelessness or disregard in failing to seize the opportunity.