to take one's chance
1
4.2
- phrasal verb
- Informal
- He was nervous about the competition, but decided to take his chance and submit his artwork.
- willing to take one's chance
Examples
-
It's a bad situation to be in, so when the zombies start coming, Sloane takes her chance to escape.
Blog text (16) -
But I think I'm gonna take my chance.
-
Then I will take my chances.
-
He'll have to take his chances, too.
-
"He ought to be here to take his chances with the rest of us."
Fiction book (1996) -
I just thought I'd take my chances.
-
I'd rather take my chances in the air.
-
She knew her only option was to take her chance and walk by as closely and slowly as possible.
Fiction book (1996) -
Roland walks out of his room, crosses the road, and takes his chances with the night.
Fiction book (1996) -
I take my chances.
Synonyms
412
3.8
Do something risky hoping to do well
326
3.2
Do things that might be dangerous to get something important
136
3.3
To do something risky hoping for a good result
134
1.6
To do something new to see if you can do it
115
4.0
To take a risk hoping for a good result
41
6.1
To risk doing or saying something to support an idea
39
3.7
To try to do something even when success is uncertain
27
4.1
To try something, especially something new
22
4.5
To risk doing something hoping for a good result
22
4.3
Try doing something, often for the first time
20
5.7
Make a brave decision even when it feels risky
16
4.9
To try to do something, often for the first time
12
3.9
Act quickly to use a good chance
12
5.3
To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed
11
4.2
To do something risky hoping to get a good result
9
3.4
To try doing something you have not done before
7
7.3
Try something risky to get a big reward
6
3.0
To do something that might lead to harm or loss
3
8.5
To try something risky when the result is not certain
2
8.2
To risk everything you have on one choice
1
5.3
To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed
1
7.3
To do something risky without knowing what will happen
1
3.9
To take a chance quickly before other people do
To make a big decision you cannot change that may be risky
Take a chance to get a reward
Antonyms
How Bold
- Informal
10
6.4
11
4.2
- Informal
1
4.2
- Informal
9
5.8
301
2.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'take' (seize/accept) combined with 'one's chance' (one's opportunity or risk) yields the sense of seizing an opportunity or risking something to try, which a B1 learner who knows the words can infer. This pattern (verb + possessive + chance/opportunity) is common cross-linguistically and 'chance' already encodes the idea of opportunity with risk, making the expression transparent.
Etymology
Take one's chance comes from gambling: a player would take a roll of the dice and accept the chance of winning or losing. So it now means 'to try something even if it might fail'.