chance upon
To find (someone or something) by chance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I happened to chance upon a rare coin in the park.”
“While walking through the old market, I chanced upon a beautiful painting that I had been looking for for years.”
“During his research in the dusty archives, the historian chanced upon a collection of letters that revealed the truth about the forgotten king.”
- 01
blow one's chance
To ruin, or fail to capitalise on an opportunity.
- 02
Buckley's chance
A very small chance; no chance at all.
- 03
chances are
It is likely that, it is probable that
- 04
Chinaman's chance
No chance; zero possibility.
- 05
dog's chance
Little or no likelihood.
- 06
fancy one's chances
To believe that one has a good chance of success.
- 07
fat chance
Little or no chance, a low or nonexistent likelihood of occurrence or success; a faint chance.
- 08
fighting chance
A chance that is dependent on success in a struggle, with the implication that such success is not unattainable.
Last updated August 10, 2026