Word.ws English Dictionary

chance would be a fine thing

chance would be a fine thing is the alternative form of chance'd be a fine thing.

Meaning of chance'd be a fine thing

Phrase

chance'd be a fine thing

  1. (UK, idiomatic) Synonym of no chance or fat chance, with a somewhat more cheerful attitude.
    • Mrs Hawthon: Why didn't you get wed if you were so curious? There's plenty would have had you.
      Fanny: Chance is a fine thing. Happen I wouldn't have had them!
      Mrs Hawthorn: Happen you'll be sorry for it before long. There's not so many will have you now, if this gets about.1912, Stanley Houghton, Hindle Wakes, act I, scene i
    Synonyms:
    no chance or fat chance, with a somewhat more cheerful attitude, one should be so lucky, one should live so long

Questions about chance would be a fine thing

What is chance would be a fine thing the alternative form of?
Chance would be a fine thing is the alternative form of chance'd be a fine thing.

Words near chance would be a fine thing in the dictionary

  1. chance on
  2. chance one's arm
  3. chance passenger
  4. chance the ducks
  5. chance upon
  6. chance would be a fine thing
  7. chance'd be a fine thing
  8. chance-medley
  9. chance-medleys
  10. chanceable
  11. chanceably

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: chance would be a fine thing (page history and authors); chance'd be a fine thing (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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