dog's chance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / LowInformal, colloquial, figurative.
Quick answer
What does “dog's chance” mean?
A very small probability of success, typically implying no realistic hope at all.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very small probability of success, typically implying no realistic hope at all.
An idiom used to denote a hopeless situation where failure is almost certain, often used in negative constructions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiom is understood and used in both varieties, though slightly more prevalent in British English. The form remains identical.
Connotations
Carries a vivid, slightly dramatic or emphatic connotation of hopelessness in both dialects.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in British media and conversation; in American English, alternatives like 'snowball's chance' or 'ghost of a chance' may be equally or more common.
Grammar
How to Use “dog's chance” in a Sentence
[Subject] doesn't have/stand a dog's chance (of [verb+ing]/[noun phrase])[Subject] hasn't got a dog's chance (in [place])Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"With our current cash flow, we haven't got a dog's chance of securing that loan."
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose. Might appear in informal discussions: "That theory doesn't stand a dog's chance of being published in a top journal."
Everyday
"You think you can beat him at chess? You haven't got a dog's chance!"
Technical
Not used in technical contexts except for metaphorical, informal commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dog's chance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dog's chance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dog's chance”
- Using the plural ('dogs' chance').
- Using it in a positive sense ('He has a dog's chance!').
- Confusing it with 'a fighting chance' (which implies some hope).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is exclusively used in negative contexts to emphasize the absence of any realistic hope.
Almost never. The standard, idiomatic use requires a negating word like 'not', 'no', 'without', or 'hasn't got'.
'A dog's chance' implies virtually no chance (near zero), while 'a slim chance' acknowledges a small but real possibility.
No, it is not considered offensive. It is a conventional, if vivid, metaphor and does not imply cruelty to dogs.
A very small probability of success, typically implying no realistic hope at all.
Dog's chance is usually informal, colloquial, figurative. in register.
Dog's chance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒɡz ˌtʃɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːɡz ˌtʃæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not a dog's chance in hell”
- “a dog's breakfast”
- “a dog's life”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tiny, helpless puppy trying to win a race against champion greyhounds – it has a 'dog's chance' (i.e., none).
Conceptual Metaphor
HOPELESSNESS IS BEING A POWERLESS ANIMAL / SUCCESS IS A CONTEST (which one cannot even enter).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'not a dog's chance' express?