a fat chance
idiomatic phrase (used ironically)

- very little or no possibility

- used to say that you certainly do not think that something is likely to happen

Dictionary Com, Cambridge Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

Originally, the phrase "a fat chance" would have meant exactly what it implies: a big or significant opportunity, with "fat" symbolizing abundance or importance. The word "fat" has historically been used metaphorically in English to denote largeness, wealth, or excess (e.g., "a fat purse" meaning wealth).

By the late 19th to early 20th century, "a fat chance" began being used ironically in American English to mean the opposite: “no chance at all.” The irony likely emerged from sarcastic inversion, where speakers used an exaggerated phrase to mock the actual likelihood of something happening.

The phrase was popularized in the 20th century, appearing in literature, films, and everyday speech as a humorous, dismissive way to emphasize the improbability of an event.

The ironic usage is so established that modern English speakers rarely if ever use "fat chance" literally to mean a good opportunity - it's become a pure sarcasm marker almost exclusively used ironically to mean no possibility exists at all. This makes it particularly tricky for non-native speakers who might interpret it literally.

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FAT CHANCE INVENTIONS

- “Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force" A spinning table that would use centrifugal force to assist childbirth - George and Charlotte Blonsky (1965) US Patent 3,216,423

- “Bird Diaper" A diaper harness for pet birds to prevent droppings - Lorraine Moore (1957) US Patent 2,882,858

- "Anti-Eating Face Mask" A mask with mesh covering the mouth to prevent the wearer from eating - Lucy Barmby (1982) US Patent 4,344,424

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SYNONYMS

a fat lot of good, a snowball's chance in hell, ain't happening, as if, as rare as hen's teeth, as rare as rocking-horse poo, barely had a chance, better luck next time, chance would be a fine thing, chances are slim to none, cold day in hell, don't bet on it, don't count on it (hold your breath), doubtful, dream on, faint hope, FAT CHANCE, forget (about) it, get real, good luck with that, highly doubtful (unlikely), improbable, in your dreams, keep dreaming, like finding a needle in a haystack (getting blood from a stone, herding cats), never gonna happen, never happening, next to impossible, no chance (dice, way), not a chance (a hope, a prayer, a snowball's chance in hell), not bloody likely (gonna happen, happening, in a million years, likely, on the thirtieth of February), not a ghost of a chance, once in a blue moon, one in a million, out of the question, over my dead body, pigs might fly, pipe dream, pull the other one, remote possibility, slim chance, snowball's chance (in hell), that'll be the day, think again, when hell freezes over, when pigs fly, wouldn't bet on it, yeah right, you must be joking, you wish, you're dreaming, zero chance

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“With that sassy attitude, he has a FAT CHANCE getting a promotion."

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