Not have a/the ghost of a chance In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "not have a/the ghost of a chance", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Jenne Phuong

2023-08-30 04:08

Meaning of Not have a/the ghost of a chance

Synonyms:

When Hell Freezes Over , not have a snowball's chance in hell , have a chance in a million

Not have a/the ghost of a chance phrase informal

The verb "stand" can substitute for the verb "have".

Have very little chance of succeeding in doing something

He hasn't had the ghost of a chance of winning the race.

He knew that he didn't stand a ghost of a chance of being given the school scholarship, but he still tried his best in the exam.

Other phrases about:

Blind Luck

Nothing but fortunate chance

take a flyer (on something)

If you take a flyer (on something), you take a chance, risk, or gamble on it.

one shot in (one's) locker

The last opportunity for one to achieve something

a second bite at the cherry

A second opportunity

a ghost of a chance

Very little chance of succeeding in doing something

Grammar and Usage of Not have a/the ghost of a chance

Verb Forms

do not have a/the ghost of a chance
does not have a/the ghost of a chance
did not have a/the ghost of a chance

The auxiliary verb "do" should be conjugated according to its tense.

Origin of Not have a/the ghost of a chance

This term, which uses "ghost" in the sense of an insubstantial shadow, dates from the nineteenth century. In print, it appeared in "Thomas Hughes’s Tom Brown’s School Days" (1857): “Williams hadn’t the ghost of a chance with Tom at wrestling.”

The Origin Cited: idioms.thefreedictionary.com .