half a chance
idiom
: any opportunity
If given half a chance, she could show everyone how talented she is.
Examples of half a chance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s the Federal Reserve’s sober message — though given half a chance, the markets won’t heed it.
—
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Luckily, vexations are evergreen if given half a chance, and, at least on Broadway, are assuageable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
The shape of my life seems almost the inverse of the hero’s mountain: a first half devoted to others, a second half a chance to become ourselves.
—Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021
Naturally, this is a futile exercise, one that hopelessly sweeps the recent history of the American right under the rug and foolishly sacrifices journalistic integrity in the dim hopes of winning converts from an authoritarian party that would demolish the free press given half a chance.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2022
Best to arrive at her fort defenseless to have half a chance at challenging her own almost unbreachable defense system.
—Bono, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2022
The voters of Arizona have a clear choice between Hobbs, who fights for election integrity, and Lake, who her critics fear will bludgeon democracy if given half a chance.
—Dean Obeidallah, CNN, 17 Oct. 2022
Except that uncle is a harmless figure of sympathy, whereas the Republican Party is about to destroy democracy, if given half a chance.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 15 Nov. 2021
Your employees will surpass your expectations given half a chance. Collaborate.
—Joanna Swash, Forbes, 7 May 2021
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Luckily, vexations are evergreen if given half a chance, and, at least on Broadway, are assuageable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
The shape of my life seems almost the inverse of the hero’s mountain: a first half devoted to others, a second half a chance to become ourselves.
—Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021
Naturally, this is a futile exercise, one that hopelessly sweeps the recent history of the American right under the rug and foolishly sacrifices journalistic integrity in the dim hopes of winning converts from an authoritarian party that would demolish the free press given half a chance.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2022
Best to arrive at her fort defenseless to have half a chance at challenging her own almost unbreachable defense system.
—Bono, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2022
The voters of Arizona have a clear choice between Hobbs, who fights for election integrity, and Lake, who her critics fear will bludgeon democracy if given half a chance.
—Dean Obeidallah, CNN, 17 Oct. 2022
Except that uncle is a harmless figure of sympathy, whereas the Republican Party is about to destroy democracy, if given half a chance.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 15 Nov. 2021
Your employees will surpass your expectations given half a chance. Collaborate.
—Joanna Swash, Forbes, 7 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half a chance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near half a chance
Cite this Entry
“Half a chance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20a%20chance. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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