odd chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"odd chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean an unlikely or unexpected event. For example: "It was an odd chance that I ran into my old teacher in the mall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

They had created the odd chance.

The Guardian - Sport

Elsewhere: it's still Romania 0-0 Argentina with the Romanians getting the odd chance against what should be stronger opposition.

The Guardian - Sport

Cook set conservative fields, which meant that the odd chance went flying through a gap, but there were no easy runs out there.

The Guardian - Sport

And by some odd chance (this would never happen now) the story disclosed that he was staying at Brown's Hotel, in Albemarle Street, Piccadilly — not far from my publishers' offices.

The New Yorker

Not, say, Sepp Blatter, on the odd chance you could rifle through his desk while he was in the bathroom, but someone you really think might be fun or interesting to be around?

The New York Times

They were the unfortunate but revealing result of an algorithm that generates random phrases and slaps them on print-on-demand T-shirts, on the odd chance that someone might buy them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Otherwise you'll overlook the low probabilities, the odd chances, that crack a life wide open: the possibility, for example, that Marian in her loneliness might be attracted to a silly liberal man.

The New York Times - Books

I'm not going to put up with this sort of harassment from the authorities, but as long as they're still at the low-level random sampling stage of it, I'm willing to attempt to fly knowing I've got a 95%-odd chance of making my flight.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though they appeared comfortable, particularly in defence, Sale kept probing and created the odd half-chance.

The Guardian - Sport

But he was clearly the most threatening American player and more importantly, he displayed skill and class on a number of occasions to fashion the odd half-chance virtually single-handedly.

The Guardian - Sport

"In overtime in a seventh game, you look to have that odd-man chance, to get a defenseman who can jump up on the play, and that's what Darius did for us," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "odd chance" to describe a situation where an event or outcome is both unlikely and peculiar or surprising. It is particularly effective when highlighting the unexpected nature of something.

Common error

While grammatically correct, avoid overuse in very formal writing, as it can sound somewhat informal. Consider more precise alternatives like "unlikely opportunity" or "unexpected possibility" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "odd chance" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence to describe an unlikely or unexpected possibility. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically sound and acceptable for use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

14%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "odd chance" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an unlikely or unexpected event. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral level of formality. While not as common as other similar phrases, it effectively communicates a sense of surprise and improbability. Consider alternatives like "unusual chance" or "rare opportunity" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intriguing chance

Replaces "odd" with "intriguing", suggesting the chance is interesting or captivating.

curious chance

Substitutes "odd" with "curious", indicating the chance is peculiar or unusual.

odd coincidence

Replaces "chance" with "coincidence", focusing on the unplanned nature of the event.

bizarre chance

Employs "bizarre" instead of "odd", emphasizing the strangeness or absurdity of the chance.

interesting chance

Substitutes "odd" with "interesting", suggesting the chance is noteworthy or engaging.

awkward chance

Uses "awkward" instead of "odd", highlighting the uncomfortable or clumsy nature of the situation.

ironic chance

Uses "ironic" instead of "odd", highlighting the contradictory or unexpected outcome.

amazing chance

Replaces "odd" with "amazing", focusing on the surprising and positive nature of the chance.

eerie chance

Uses "eerie" instead of "odd", highlighting the strange and unsettling nature of the event.

occasional chance

Replaces "odd" with "occasional", emphasizing that the chance happens infrequently.

FAQs

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

You can use "odd chance" to describe an unlikely or unexpected event, such as "It was an odd chance that I found the exact book I needed at a small, local bookstore".

What can I say instead of "odd chance"?

You can use alternatives like "unusual chance", "rare opportunity", or "slim possibility" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "odd chance" or "strange opportunity"?

While both phrases are similar, "odd chance" emphasizes the unlikelihood of the event, whereas "strange opportunity" highlights the unusual or peculiar nature of the situation.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "odd chance"?

It is appropriate to use "odd chance" when you want to emphasize that an event is both unexpected and somewhat peculiar or surprising. It's commonly used in narrative or descriptive writing.