Cool MateChance vs We had one shot
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chance
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
We had one shot
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Chance
| Chance | We had one shot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː hæd wʌn ʃɒt//🇺🇸 //wi hæd wʌn ʃɑt// |
| Meaning | A possibility of something happening. | We had one chance. |
| Example | She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. | We had one shot to win the game, and we took it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | excellent, good, high, give somebody, be in with, have, by any chance, chance of, chance for, fat chance, have every chance, no chance!, equal, fair, good, element, get, have, deserve, arise, come, come your way, chance at, given the chance, half a chance, let a chance slip, take, chance on, chance with, mere, pure, sheer, leave something to, by chance, due to chance, through chance, a game of chance, take your chances | missed shot, final shot, lucky shot |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'change' in spoken English., Using 'chance' as a verb incorrectly., Saying 'a chance to do' when it should be 'chance of doing'. | Confused with 'got a shot' implying a possibility instead of chance., Using 'shot' to mean 'attempt' in formal contexts., Misplacing the phrase contextually, thinking it means a literal shot. |
| Usage notes | Use 'chance' when discussing the likelihood of an event. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but avoid using it in very formal documents. It can often be replaced with 'opportunity' when talking about the possibility for success. | Use this expression when referring to a single opportunity to succeed. Suitable for conversations and storytelling, but may be considered too informal in very formal writing contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Chance vs We had one shot
What's the difference between Chance and We had one shot?
Chance: A possibility of something happening. We had one shot: We had one chance.
Which is more common: Chance and We had one shot?
Chance is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Chance: She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. We had one shot: We had one shot to win the game, and we took it.
Can I use Chance and We had one shot interchangeably?
Not always. Chance and We had one shot are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.