Origin of the term “fat chance”
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The phrase "fat chance" can be used as a way of sarcastically describing the impossibility of something, but where did it originate from? I've googled it several times, and it always comes up with the definition, not the origin.
etymology expressions
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
The phrase "fat chance" can be used as a way of sarcastically describing the impossibility of something, but where did it originate from? I've googled it several times, and it always comes up with the definition, not the origin.
etymology expressions
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
2
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
1
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
The phrase "fat chance" can be used as a way of sarcastically describing the impossibility of something, but where did it originate from? I've googled it several times, and it always comes up with the definition, not the origin.
etymology expressions
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
The phrase "fat chance" can be used as a way of sarcastically describing the impossibility of something, but where did it originate from? I've googled it several times, and it always comes up with the definition, not the origin.
etymology expressions
etymology expressions
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
edited Dec 28 '11 at 17:52
Ellie Kesselman
4,65932147
4,65932147
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
asked May 18 '11 at 1:14
Thursagen
34.9k38143214
34.9k38143214
2
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
1
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51
add a comment |
2
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
1
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51
2
2
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
1
1
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
I believe this simply derives from one sense of the word fat:
fat 2a well filled out : of sizable proportions : THICK <a ~ letter> <a ~ volume of verse> : BIG <a resistor spark plug ... permits a wider gap, thus a fatter hotter spark — Newsweek> : unusually large <he had to pay a ~ price to move his factory — Martin Turnell> [Websters 3rd New Int'l Dictionary]
The term is used ironically. At face value it means there is a large chance of something happening, but underneath it really means there is a slim chance after all.
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
My English as second language wife jokingly asked about it the other day. My hypothesis (no research to validate) was that it could originate from probability theory. The chances (odds) of something happening are representing in statistics as a distribution. People are familiar with the shape of a normal distribution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution.
The more narrow the shape, provides a more narrow range and higher probability within this range of an occurrence. The fatter the shape distributes the odds of something happening across a much wider range with less chance for each # represented. Hence, a fat (wider) distribution represents a lower chance hence 'fat chance'
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
I believe this simply derives from one sense of the word fat:
fat 2a well filled out : of sizable proportions : THICK <a ~ letter> <a ~ volume of verse> : BIG <a resistor spark plug ... permits a wider gap, thus a fatter hotter spark — Newsweek> : unusually large <he had to pay a ~ price to move his factory — Martin Turnell> [Websters 3rd New Int'l Dictionary]
The term is used ironically. At face value it means there is a large chance of something happening, but underneath it really means there is a slim chance after all.
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
I believe this simply derives from one sense of the word fat:
fat 2a well filled out : of sizable proportions : THICK <a ~ letter> <a ~ volume of verse> : BIG <a resistor spark plug ... permits a wider gap, thus a fatter hotter spark — Newsweek> : unusually large <he had to pay a ~ price to move his factory — Martin Turnell> [Websters 3rd New Int'l Dictionary]
The term is used ironically. At face value it means there is a large chance of something happening, but underneath it really means there is a slim chance after all.
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
I believe this simply derives from one sense of the word fat:
fat 2a well filled out : of sizable proportions : THICK <a ~ letter> <a ~ volume of verse> : BIG <a resistor spark plug ... permits a wider gap, thus a fatter hotter spark — Newsweek> : unusually large <he had to pay a ~ price to move his factory — Martin Turnell> [Websters 3rd New Int'l Dictionary]
The term is used ironically. At face value it means there is a large chance of something happening, but underneath it really means there is a slim chance after all.
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
I believe this simply derives from one sense of the word fat:
fat 2a well filled out : of sizable proportions : THICK <a ~ letter> <a ~ volume of verse> : BIG <a resistor spark plug ... permits a wider gap, thus a fatter hotter spark — Newsweek> : unusually large <he had to pay a ~ price to move his factory — Martin Turnell> [Websters 3rd New Int'l Dictionary]
The term is used ironically. At face value it means there is a large chance of something happening, but underneath it really means there is a slim chance after all.
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
answered May 18 '11 at 1:31
Robusto
127k27301512
127k27301512
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
My English as second language wife jokingly asked about it the other day. My hypothesis (no research to validate) was that it could originate from probability theory. The chances (odds) of something happening are representing in statistics as a distribution. People are familiar with the shape of a normal distribution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution.
The more narrow the shape, provides a more narrow range and higher probability within this range of an occurrence. The fatter the shape distributes the odds of something happening across a much wider range with less chance for each # represented. Hence, a fat (wider) distribution represents a lower chance hence 'fat chance'
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
My English as second language wife jokingly asked about it the other day. My hypothesis (no research to validate) was that it could originate from probability theory. The chances (odds) of something happening are representing in statistics as a distribution. People are familiar with the shape of a normal distribution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution.
The more narrow the shape, provides a more narrow range and higher probability within this range of an occurrence. The fatter the shape distributes the odds of something happening across a much wider range with less chance for each # represented. Hence, a fat (wider) distribution represents a lower chance hence 'fat chance'
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
My English as second language wife jokingly asked about it the other day. My hypothesis (no research to validate) was that it could originate from probability theory. The chances (odds) of something happening are representing in statistics as a distribution. People are familiar with the shape of a normal distribution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution.
The more narrow the shape, provides a more narrow range and higher probability within this range of an occurrence. The fatter the shape distributes the odds of something happening across a much wider range with less chance for each # represented. Hence, a fat (wider) distribution represents a lower chance hence 'fat chance'
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My English as second language wife jokingly asked about it the other day. My hypothesis (no research to validate) was that it could originate from probability theory. The chances (odds) of something happening are representing in statistics as a distribution. People are familiar with the shape of a normal distribution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution.
The more narrow the shape, provides a more narrow range and higher probability within this range of an occurrence. The fatter the shape distributes the odds of something happening across a much wider range with less chance for each # represented. Hence, a fat (wider) distribution represents a lower chance hence 'fat chance'
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
answered 2 days ago
Joe Schmukatelly
1
1
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Joe Schmukatelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
This strikes me as unlikely (har har) but I guess not impossible. But, frankly, I could care less. :-)
– Scott
2 days ago
add a comment |
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2
My guess would be that it's either sarcasm, implying it has an extremely slim chance of happening. Or it's implying that it would take an extremely large chance happening to occur. I hope you get a good answer.
– Wayne
May 18 '11 at 1:30
See also fat lot of good: english.stackexchange.com/a/47296/9001
– Hugo
Oct 27 '12 at 10:13
Could it be to do with the scarcity of food in wartime and the chances of getting fat were rare
– user135252
Aug 25 '15 at 7:01
1
If an expression consisting of normal words is used ironically, i.e. meaning the contrary of the expression you won't find such formulas of irony in etymological dictionaries and questions about the origin of an ironic formula won't get you far.
– rogermue
Aug 25 '15 at 8:51