fat chance
Dream on, pal
Fat chance is an ironic expression meaning no chance at all.
The phrase works by sarcastic inversion—fat suggests abundance, but the meaning is the opposite: Fat chance of that happening.
It dismisses something as highly unlikely or impossible.
The related slim chance means the same thing without irony.
Sarcastic dismissal of claims
- as ifSuggesting something hypothetical
- sureFree from uncertainty
- dream onDismissive of unlikely hopes
- in your dreamsSarcastic denial of possibility
when pigs fly · don't hold your breath · you wish · not likely · oh sure · my foot · no way · when hell freezes over
Not apt to happen
- slimThin or meager
- remoteDistant or controller
- negligibleToo small to consider
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
doubtful · implausible · inconceivable · far-fetched · hopeless · impossible · unattainable · unachievable
Denial of acceptance
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- refusalAct of declining
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection
thumbs-down · nix · veto · cold shoulder · forget it · no dice · nothing doing · not happening
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
distrust · pessimism · misgivings · reservation · dubiousness · scoffing · questioning · leery
yeah right
Sarcastic dismissal of claims
in your dreams · when pigs fly · don't hold your breath · you wish · not likely · oh sure · my foot · no way · when hell freezes over · not on your life
unlikely
Not apt to happen
- slimThin or meager
- remoteDistant or controller
- negligibleToo small to consider
longshot · doubtful · implausible · inconceivable · far-fetched · hopeless · impossible · unattainable · unachievable · pipe dream
rejection
Denial of acceptance
brush-off · thumbs-down · nix · veto · cold shoulder · forget it · no dice · nothing doing · not happening · ruled out
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
suspicion · distrust · pessimism · misgivings · reservation · dubiousness · scoffing · questioning · leery · wary
- certaintycertain, sure, uncertain, unsure, definite
- chanceluck, lottery, dice, randomness, probability
- refusalsno, decline, no thanks, refuse, nope
- sarcastic phraseswhatever, who cares, yeah right, so what, why bother
- sarcastic rejectionsas if, dream on, in your dreams, yeah right, keep dreaming
- disbeliefdisbelief, no way, incredulity, unbelievable, yeah right
fat chancesure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · guaranteed · slam dunk · done deal · in the bag
fat chanceyou bet
Emphatic casual affirmation
absolutely · for sure · count on it · no doubt · definitely
fat, chance, fatty, fats, chances, fatten, chanced, fatter, fattening