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Glite Dictionary
to blow a chance

to blow a chance

8 4.9
Miss a good opportunity by making a mistake
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : perder una oportunidad
  • USC blew a chance to add to their lead later in the quarter.
  • just blew a chance
  • blow a chance to win
  • blow a second chance

Examples

  • He really blew his chance to impress the coaches during the tryouts.

  • I am sorry this happened to you, but you blew a great chance to make a statement.

    Blog text (14)

  • Red Sox blow a chance to win their first world series since 1918.

    Game 6 (2006)

  • Too bad, you just blew your chance at a first impression.

    Blog text (32)

  • If they kept pushing with Robbie, they could blow that chance.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • You're blowing your only chance.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Rowland blew a chance to go ahead at the half.

    Blog text (6)

  • I blew my chance!

    Fiction book (2000)

  • It's important not to blow your chance at the job interview by arriving late.

  • If you hesitate now, you'll blow your chance to participate in the tournament.

Synonyms

to squander
vsto blow a chance
67 6.5

To use money, time, or chances in a foolish way

refers to failing without necessarily being reckless or foolish
to miss an opportunity
vsto blow a chance
14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

emphasizes losing it through waste rather than simple inaction

Antonyms

to seize the opportunity
10 3.9

Act quickly to use a good chance

How Successful

to take one's chance
  • Informal
4 4.2
to blow a chance
  • Informal
8 4.9
to squander
67 6.5

Surface Forms

blow a chance infinitive
blowing a chance present participle
blows a chance third person singular
blew a chance past
blown a chance past participle

Morphology

blow + a + chance

The meaning 'to waste an opportunity' is directly derivable from 'blow' in its colloquial sense 'to squander' combined with 'chance' (opportunity). This verb + noun composition is transparent and parallels constructions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings will readily infer the MWE.

Etymology

Blow a chance may come from the image of a person blowing out a candle or popping a balloon that stands for a chance. When you blow it away, the chance is gone, so blow a chance means 'to waste an opportunity'.