no chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"no chance" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to say that something is impossible or very unlikely. For example, "There's no chance I'll be able to finish this project in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No chance".

The New York Times - Sports

"No chance, no chance.

The Guardian - Sport

He's got no chance.

The New York Times - Sports

No chance this time.

The New York Times

You've got no chance".

The New Yorker

Texas has no chance.

The New York Times

They stood no chance".

The Economist

No chance today.

Independent

Chieng had no chance.

The New Yorker

He had no chance.

The New York Times - Sports

No chance of that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no chance" to express strong disbelief or impossibility in both formal and informal contexts. For example, "No chance I'm going to the party after working all day."

Common error

While "no chance" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in highly formal documents such as academic papers or legal briefs. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "highly improbable" or "completely unfeasible" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no chance" functions as an interjection or an adverbial phrase to express strong disagreement, impossibility, or a very low probability of something happening. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "no chance" is a versatile phrase used to express impossibility or strong disbelief. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely used, especially in news, media, and sports contexts. While "no chance" is very common and understood, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in certain formal settings. Be sure to use "no chance" to express a lack of possibility or to emphatically deny a suggestion, and consider alternatives such as "not a prayer" or "highly unlikely" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not a prayer

Emphasizes the hopelessness of a situation, suggesting divine intervention would be needed for success.

no way

A more informal and direct way of expressing strong disagreement or impossibility.

not a hope

Similar to "not a prayer", it indicates a lack of any positive expectation.

impossible

Directly states that something cannot occur.

zero possibility

Emphasizes the complete absence of any chance for something to happen.

slim chance

Indicates that there is a very small possibility, but it is unlikely.

highly unlikely

A more formal way of expressing that something is improbable.

out of the question

Suggests something is not worth considering because it is unacceptable or impossible.

forget about it

An informal way to dismiss an idea or possibility entirely.

don't bet on it

Suggests that the likelihood of something happening is so low that it's not worth wagering on.

FAQs

How can I use "no chance" in a sentence?

"No chance" is used to express that something is impossible or very unlikely. For instance, you could say, "There's "no chance" of that happening" or "He has "no chance" of winning the race".

What's a more formal alternative to "no chance"?

For more formal situations, you can use phrases like "highly improbable", "extremely unlikely", or "there is no possibility". These options convey a similar meaning but with a more sophisticated tone.

Is it ever incorrect to use "no chance"?

While grammatically correct, "no chance" might be too informal for certain contexts, such as academic papers or formal business communications. In such cases, opt for more formal alternatives.

What's the difference between "slim chance" and "no chance"?

"Slim chance" indicates that there's a very small possibility, however unlikely, while "no chance" suggests that something is completely impossible. They differ in the degree of possibility they convey. Use "slim chance" when there's a remote possibility, and "no chance" when there is absolutely none.