✨ Overview
eye for/to the main chance, to have an - To look out for one’s own best interest or for the opportunity that will be most profitable. The term is thought to come either from betting in cockfights (main being an obsolete word for cockfight) or from a game of chance called hazard, in which the main signified the number (anywhere from 5 to 9) called by the caster before the dice were thrown and chance signified the second throw of the dice, which determined the total. In any event, the expression dates from the sixteenth century, was recorded by John Lyly and Shakespeare, among others, and appeared in John Ray’s English Proverbs of 1670.
😆 Synonyms & Related Terms
- Opportunistic: Seizing opportunities with little regard for moral principles.
- Go-Getter: An ambitious, enterprising person.
- Wheeler-Dealer: A person who engages in commercial or political scheming.
- Chancer: Someone who takes risks in the hope of a favorable outcome.
📚 Similar Expressions and Sayings
- “Strike while the iron is hot.” 🔨 - Take advantage of favorable conditions while you can.
- “Make hay while the sun shines.” 🌞 - Make the most of favorable situations.
- “Seize the day.” ⏳ - Embrace the opportunities of the present moment (carpe diem for all you Latin lovers).
- “No guts, no glory.” - Courage is required to achieve great success.
🧐 Interesting Proverbs
- “Fortune favors the bold.” - People who bravely seize the moment often find success.
- “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.” - Don’t delay in taking advantage of opportunities.
🤣 Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I finally found the secret to success. It’s the ’eye for the main chance’- unfortunately, mine was still glued to the TV.” - Unknown
- “Seizing opportunities? I barely manage to seize the remote control!” - An average couch potato.
📖 Suggested Literature and Movies
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Books:
- “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison 📘 - A compelling narrative about seizing one’s opportunities and identity.
- “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald 📗 - A novel saturated with opportunities and their often deceptive appearances.
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Movies:
- “The Pursuit of Happyness” 📽️ - A heartwarming tale about grit and persistence in chasing dreams.
- “Wall Street” 📽️ - A peek into the life of a relentless stockbroker with an uncanny eye for opportunities.
Publishing Note: As our inspirational friend William Wordsworth might say, “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” And remember, sometimes, having an eye for the main chance means seizing even the small, quirky opportunities that come your way.
Inspirational Thought: “Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. So keep an eye out and seize them! 🌟”
Stay insightful, Penelope Punnster
