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Chinaman's chance

No chance; zero possibility; a high or almost certain risk of death or failure.

Etymology:

  • Originally a reference to the socio-economic prospects of immigrant Chinese labour in the United States in the 19th century, which often involved highly dangerous work on the railroads.
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Submitted on July 07, 2010

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Chinaman's chance

last chanceChinaman on one's backmust have killed a Chinamanoff chancechance would be a fine thingslim chancesmart chancejump at the chancechance uponghost of a chancesnowball's chance in hellblow one's chanceno chanceChinaman on one's back

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