ENGLISH
REFERENCE

outside chance

idiom
Meaning

A small likelihood; a remote possibility.


Examples
SIMPLE

There is an outside chance that it will rain today.

CONTEXTUAL

Even though our team is losing, we still have an outside chance of winning if we score quickly.

COMPLEX

While the experts considered the project unlikely to succeed, there remained an outside chance that the new technology would work as intended.

Anchors to
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

    chance upon

    To find (someone or something) by chance.

  4. 04

    chances are

    It is likely that, it is probable that

  5. 05

    Chinaman's chance

    No chance; zero possibility.

  6. 06

    dog's chance

    Little or no likelihood.

  7. 07

    fancy one's chances

    To believe that one has a good chance of success.

  8. 08

    fat chance

    Little or no chance, a low or nonexistent likelihood of occurrence or success; a faint chance.

Last updated April 17, 2026