buckley's chance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Regional/Australian/New Zealand English)Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “buckley's chance” mean?
No chance at all.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
No chance at all; a hopeless situation.
An idiom describing a prospect or situation that is so unlikely to succeed that it is practically impossible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually unknown and unused in American English. Primarily an Australian and New Zealand idiom, though it may be understood in British English due to shared Commonwealth cultural exposure.
Connotations
In its region of use, it's a colourful, informal way to express impossibility. Elsewhere, it is obscure and would likely cause confusion.
Frequency
Very common in Australian and New Zealand informal speech and writing. Extremely rare to non-existent elsewhere.
Grammar
How to Use “buckley's chance” in a Sentence
[Subject] + haven't/hasn't got + a Buckley's chance + (of/in) + [Gerund/Noun Phrase][Subject] + stand + a Buckley's chance + (of/in) + [Gerund/Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously in informal meetings among Australians to dismiss an unrealistic proposal: 'That budget has a Buckley's chance of getting approved.'
Academic
Extremely rare and inappropriate in formal writing.
Everyday
Common in Australian/New Zealand casual conversation to express low probability: 'You've got Buckley's chance of getting a taxi in this rain.'
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “buckley's chance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “buckley's chance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “buckley's chance”
- Using it affirmatively (e.g., 'He has a Buckley's chance' - this is incorrect; it's always negative).
- Using it outside Australian/NZ contexts without explanation.
- Misspelling as 'Buckly's chance'.
- Treating it as a standard possessive noun instead of a fixed phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The origin is debated. The most common theories refer to William Buckley, a convict who escaped in 1803 and lived with Aboriginal Australians for 32 years, surviving against immense odds. The ironic idiom suggests that even his unlikely survival is more probable than the chance in question. Another theory links it to a Melbourne department store, Buckley & Nunn, punning on 'Buckley's chance or none'.
No. It is a highly informal, regionally specific idiom. It is inappropriate for academic, business, or other formal contexts.
It is primarily Australian and New Zealand. It is not part of active American English vocabulary and is only marginally known in the UK, often through exposure to Australian media.
They are near-synonyms. 'Buckley's chance' is the common Australian/New Zealand variant of the more internationally understood 'a snowball's chance in hell.' The meaning is identical: an impossible proposition.
No chance at all.
Buckley's chance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌk.liːz ˌtʃɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʌk.liz ˌtʃæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Buckley's and none”
- “two chances: Buckley's and none”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone named Buckley entering a lottery with a single ticket among millions. 'Buckley's chance' is that tiny, futile ticket - it's effectively no chance at all.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOPELESSNESS IS A PERSON (BUCKLEY) WITH NO LUCK.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'Buckley's chance' express?