only chance

collocation in English

meaningsofonlyandchance

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withchance.
only
adjective[before noun]
uk
/ˈəʊn.li/us
/ˈoʊn.li/
used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are ...
See more atonly
chance
noun
uk
/tʃɑːns/us
/tʃæns/
an occasion that allows something to ...
See more atchance

(Definition ofonlyandchancefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofonly chance

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Theonlychanceremaining was to require both employers and workers to pay the insurance costs themselves.
From theCambridge English Corpus
For many people, participation in a research protocol was theironlychanceto acquire a needed drug.
From theCambridge English Corpus
But, arguably, it is in each embryo's interest that reproduction continues because it is the embryo'sonlychanceto be the one that survives.
From theCambridge English Corpus
To the lower classes the church schools offered theonlychancefor upward mobility outside the narrow confines of a career in the clergy.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Arguably, it is in each embryo's interest that reproduction continues because it is itsonlychanceto be the one that survives.
From theCambridge English Corpus
They are the fissures in the rock through which the author and his readers stand theironlychanceof passage to the mythic realms beyond.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It is in all their interests because it is theironlychanceof having a life.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Hisonlychancefor influence now was to work for patrons or powerful influence groups.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Zero would indicate that there wasonlychanceagreement between sessions.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Nothing, not even the system, can avoid the symbolic obligation, and it is in this trap that theonlychanceof a catastrophe for capital remains.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Participants showedonlychancelevels of performance on this task, indicating they had not been able to consciously recognize the stimulus words in the masked condition.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The rapid exchange of information between official bodies is theonlychancewe have of preventing criminal exploitation of the benefits of this free movement.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Hisonlychanceof restoration to health and activity is a prolonged and pensive system of medical treatment.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
My belief is that theonlychanceof getting rid of the difficulty is to get some new arrangement altogether.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlychancethat we have had, a chance given us by oil, has been wasted: hence today's debate.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is theironlychanceof safeguarding themselves.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
One'sonlychanceof getting at the teetotaler is by taxing tea.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlychancewe have of overcoming our coal problems is through the efforts of the mineworkers.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlychanceis that democracy should be learned from below and not imposed from above.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The method of producing peace by generous neighbourly solicitude is now theonlychancehumanity has of surviving.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofonly
Go to the definition ofchance
See other collocations withchance