English Reference
Idiom idiom

dog's chance


Little or no likelihood.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He does not have a dog's chance of winning.

CONTEXTUAL

Given the heavy rain and the poor condition of the track, the runner does not have a dog's chance of finishing first.

COMPLEX

Despite his elaborate plans and optimistic projections, the inexperienced candidate did not have a dog's chance of securing the nomination against such a seasoned political rival.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    blow one's chance

    To ruin, or fail to capitalise on an opportunity.

  2. 02

    Buckley's chance

    A very small chance; no chance at all.

  3. 03

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  4. 04

    call off the dogs

    To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.

  5. 05

    cat and dog life

    An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.

  6. 06

    chance upon

    To find (someone or something) by chance.

  7. 07

    chances are

    It is likely that, it is probable that

  8. 08

    Chinaman's chance

    No chance; zero possibility.

Last updated August 10, 2026