take a chance

Meaning

To take a chance means to try something even though there is a risk of failure or negative consequences. It is often used when making a decision that involves uncertainty but offers a potential reward. You can 'take a chance on' someone or something.

Examples

• I decided to take a chance and apply for the job, even though I didn't meet all the requirements.

  I decided to take a chance and apply for the job, even though I didn't meet all the requirements.

• If you don't take a chance once in a while, you'll never know what you're capable of.

  If you don't take a chance once in a while, you'll never know what you're capable of.

• She took a chance on the new restaurant down the street, and it turned out to be amazing.

  She took a chance on the new restaurant down the street, and it turned out to be amazing.

• I'm not ready to take a chance on buying a used car without having a mechanic look at it first.

  I'm not ready to take a chance on buying a used car without having a mechanic look at it first.

• We took a chance with the weather and had our wedding outdoors, and luckily it didn't rain.

  We took a chance with the weather and had our wedding outdoors, and luckily it didn't rain.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I decided to make a chance and move to Spain.

  ✓ I decided to take a chance and move to Spain.

  Learners often confuse the verbs 'make' and 'take'. The correct collocation is always 'take a chance'.

• ✗ You should take chance on him.

  ✓ You should take a chance on him.

  The indefinite article 'a' is required in this expression. You cannot say 'take chance' in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'm not sure if this business will succeed, but I'm going to ___.

  💡 Try something despite the risk.

  Show answer

  take a chance

• Why don't you ___ on the new software? It might actually save you time.

  💡 Give it a try even if you're unsure.

  Show answer

  take a chance