fat chance

nounno chance

Synonyms for fat chance

noun no chance

Word Origin & History

Old English fætt "fat, fatted, plump, obese," originally a contracted past participle of fættian "to cram, stuff," from Proto-Germanic *faitaz "fat" (cf. Old Frisian fatt, Old Norse feitr, Dutch vet, German feist), from PIE *poid- "to abound in water, milk, fat, etc." (cf. Greek piduein "to gush forth"), from root *peie- "to be fat, swell" (cf. Sanskrit payate "swells, exuberates," pituh "juice, sap, resin;" Lithuanian pienas "milk;" Greek pion "fat, wealthy;" Latin pinguis "fat").

Teen slang meaning "attractive, up to date" (also later phat) is attested from 1951. Fat cat "privileged and rich person" is from 1928; fat chance "no chance at all" attested from 1906. Fathead is from 1842; fat-witted is from 1590s; fatso is first recorded 1944. Expression the fat is in the fire originally meant "the plan has failed" (1560s).

Example Sentences for fat chance

"An' if we're torpedoed a fat chance we'll have down here," he said aloud.

Fat chance a feller's got o' seein' just how all these bugs bite him.

You had a fat chance of talking the old Major out of anything!

Fat chance Jap subs would have getting close to those flat-tops.

“Fat chance we have of winning now,” Dan said as the final event of the meet was called.

Fat chance you'll have, with Friend Harrison there to spot you, not to mention the old boy himself and Culvera.

“A fat chance he has of getting a hundred dollars from Brenchfield at this stage of the game,” exclaimed Jim.

What a fat chance for that sweet maiden of fifty years who grabbed me off at the station, the day I left for camp.

And he doesn't tell me anything except that we stand a fat chance of losing everything.

Gunnar muttered some words that might be roughly interpreted as “Fat Chance” and he and Odin left the girl on the steps.

fat chance

Synonyms for fat chance

More words related to fat chance

doubtful

unapt