You shouldn’t take chances when riding a motorbike!
A question from Thomas Paul Maier in Germany:
The word chance is a little confusing. If it means probability or opportunity it is quite understandable, but sometimes it means risk. Can you please explain how to use it meaning risk?
Trudi Faulkner-Petrova answers
Click below to hear the answer:
Thomas, thanks for your question about the use of the word ‘chance’.
You’re right in pointing out that ‘chance’ most commonly means possibility and opportunity. Perhaps you are thinking about the occasion when ‘chance’ means risk or gamble because you’ve heard or read the phrase ‘take a chance’. I’d say most often when ‘chance’ means risk it occurs as a noun in this phrase and I’ll give you a few examples of how to use it:
You’re taking a chance hiring him for the job.
I take a chance every time I let my son drive my sports car.
Due to the current economic climate, you’re really taking a chance investing in that company.
In certain situations, native speakers will say ‘I’ll chance it’ or tell someone else to ‘chance it’. When people speak in this way, they are using chance as a verb to mean take a risk. Again, here are some examples for you:
- I think it might rain so you’d better take a brolly.
- Oh, never mind, I’ll chance it.
(This person means they’re going to take a risk and not bother taking an umbrella.)
- The car’s low on petrol, do you think I’ll make it to the supermarket and back?
- Yeah, chance it.
(‘Chance it’ means take the risk of driving the car and hopefully there’ll be enough petrol.)
Another usage is this:
You shouldn’t take chances when riding a motorbike.
Don’t take any chances fixing the electrics at home by yourself - call that electrician Jamie instead.
As you can probably work out, to ‘take chances’ in these sentences means to behave riskily in a situation that involves danger. Well Thomas, I really hope you’ll ‘take a chance’ and use the phrases I’ve talked about in your own speaking and writing from now on!
About Trudi Faulkner-Petrova
Trudi Faulkner-Petrova has a BA (Hons) in English, Bsc. in Psychology and Cert.TESOL. She has been teaching EFL, EAP and Business English in international schools, businesses and universities in Beijing over the last 10 years. Currently, she is a freelance tutor for ESOL, English Literature, SAT/TOEFL preparation and also works for the British Council as an IELTS and BULATS examiner. She is in the final year of studies for an Msc. in Psychology.
