Something said when would you or someone could have been good at something--good enough to be a professional and compete with others.

Etymology:

  • One of the most quoted films of all time. Marlon Brando's character, Terry Malloy's famous line from the 1954 movie "On the Waterfront."
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If your coach benches you from the game unjustly, you might say to him, "I could have been a contender."

Submitted by TriplePurple on December 15, 2023

Modified by TriplePurple on August 25, 2024

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    "i could have been a contender." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/i-could-have-been-a-contender_64077>.

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