# Chinaman's chance

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/chinamans-chance
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

No chance; zero possibility.

## Examples

- He has not a Chinaman's chance of winning this race.
- You have a Chinaman's chance of fixing that broken phone with just a hammer.
- Without any experience or training, she realized she did not have a Chinaman's chance of getting the job.
- The small company knew they didn't have a Chinaman's chance of winning the contract against a global corporation with ten times their budget.
- Given the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution, the defense attorney knew his client did not have a Chinaman's chance of an acquittal.

## Origin

The phrase emerged in the 19th century as a reference to the socio-economic prospects of immigrant Chinese labour in the United States. It specifically addressed the likelihood of surviving the work assigned to these labourers, which frequently involved highly dangerous roles in the construction of the railroads. The term recorded a situation in which life was held as cheaply as the labour, surviving as an idiom for a slim or non-existent probability long after the railway tracks were laid.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.