👻 Not a Ghost of a Chance
Definition: Not the least likelihood. This term uses ghost in the sense of an insubstantial shadow, signifying that there is absolutely no chance of something happening.
Etymology: The idiom dates back to the nineteenth century. One of its earliest appearances in print was in Thomas Hughes’s Tom Brown’s School Days (1857): “Williams hadn’t the ghost of a chance with Tom at wrestling.”
Related and Similar Terms:
- Not a Hope in Hell: An equally hopeless scenario, often implying that the chances are less than zero.
- Chinaman’s Chance: A very slim chance, originally a reflection of racial prejudice in the 19th century.
- Snowball’s Chance in Hell: The impossibility of a snowball surviving in the heat of hell, another way to express near zero odds.
- Fat Chance / Slim Chance: Ironically, both these phrases mean the exact opposite of what they suggest – that is, very little to no chance.
Humor-Filled Quotes:
“Oh, he stood out there like he had not a ghost of a chance… and well, he didn’t.” – L. S. Laughmore
Literature and Books:
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – Masterpiece showing how missions that are meant to be impossible always aren’t or might be until they’re not, then again!
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway – A tale of impossible odds every fisherman can relate to.
Songs:
- “The Impossible Dream” – A ballad that makes you believe in tackling those ghostly chances.
- “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon – For those moments when your inner whisper says no chance, but heart says otherwise.
Movies:
- Dumb and Dumber – A comical take full of moments that seem to show not even the ghost of a chance, but with sheer lunacy to beat the odds.
- Rocky – The perfect film representation of fighting formidable odds, even a ghost of a changing room can’t shake them!
### Can you sniff out the true idiom?
- [x] Not a ghost of a chance
- [ ] Slimmer than water in a sieve
- [ ] Speaking to phantom logic
- [ ] Hiding behind spectral fears
> **Explanation:** "Not a ghost of a chance" is a legitimate idiom; the others are just creative non-phrases we conjured up for fun.
### Which phrase means "very slim chance"?
- [ ] Robin dreams
- [x] Chinaman’s chance
- [ ] Serpent wagging
- [ ] Feather's whisper
> **Explanation:** "Chinaman’s chance" connotes a very slim chance, though it does carry outdated, insensitive origins. The alternatives? Creative, yet fabricated.
### In what book does the term "Not a ghost of a chance" appear prominently?
- [x] Tom Brown’s School Days
- [ ] The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- [ ] Moby-Dick
- [ ] Les Misérables
> **Explanation:** The phrase first appeared in Thomas Hughes's *Tom Brown’s School Days* (1857), showcasing the futility of Williams' chance in wrestling.
### True or False: "Snowball's Chance in Hell" is a genuine idiom.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Absolutely true! Portraying the unsurvivable odds of a literal snowball in hell.
With the specters of our fleeting chances ever out of reach, remember: it’s better to attempt the impossible than never try at all. Venture forward, and who knows? You might just surprise yourself.
Phantasmal Phrasesmith
