happy chance
1
3.9
- noun
- It was a happy chance that brought them together at the same festival.
Examples
-
If the happy chance of an accidental witness to the offense is intended by the peculiar wording, why is this?
Academic text (1991) -
They met by happy chance at the coffee shop, both looking for a warm drink.
-
What a happy chance it was to discover a hidden gem of a restaurant on our trip!
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A fortunate event that happens by chance
319
2.7
A sudden chance that leads to success
74
2.5
A lucky event or success that happens by chance
42
5.1
An unexpected good event that happens by chance
34
5.1
A large amount of money that you get unexpectedly
25
4.9
Something very helpful that you did not expect when you needed it
18
3.2
A sudden chance that helps you succeed
15
3.9
Good luck that happens by chance, not because you worked for it
14
7.9
A happy chance event that brings good results
14
8.5
A chance event that seems planned but is actually an accident
10
3.2
A sudden lucky event that brings good results
5
9.5
An extra helpful thing you get, often at work
1
7.5
Very good luck that happens by chance and seems undeserved
1
9.1
An unexpected event that happens by chance
An unexpected good thing that happens by chance
Antonyms
How Lucky
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a lucky or fortuitous accident' is directly derivable from combining 'happy' (favorable, positive) with 'chance' (an event due to randomness); the adjective+noun composition transparently signals a fortunate occurrence. This is a straightforward compositional pattern found across languages and, despite being a somewhat literary collocation, a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Happy chance pictures a small, pleasant surprise — like finding a coin on the ground or meeting an old friend by accident. So a happy chance means 'an unexpected bit of good luck' that makes you happy.