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by any chance

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /baɪ ˌɛni ˈtʃæns/ · UK /baɪ ˌeni ˈtʃɑːns/

by any chance means: Used in a question to politely ask whether something might be true.

phrase

POLITE QUESTIONB1

Used in a question to politely ask whether something might be true.

  • Are you busy by any chance?
  • Have you seen my keys by any chance?
  • Do you by any chance know where the station is?

How to use it: Do you … by any chance? (Do you know her phone number by any chance?); Are you by any chance …? (Are you by any chance free tomorrow?)

Similar words: perhaps, possibly

Common phrases: know by any chance, available by any chance, by any chance nearby

THROUGH CHANCEC1

Through any possible accident or lucky event, rather than through a plan.

  • If we meet by any chance, I'll return your book.
  • Could such a complex pattern arise by any chance alone?
  • If the letter reaches her by any chance, she will learn the truth.

How to use it: if … by any chance (If the seeds survive by any chance, we will plant them.)

Similar words: by accident, by chance

Opposites: deliberately

Common phrases: happen by any chance, survive by any chance, arise by any chance

Questions about by any chance

What does by any chance mean?

Used in a question to politely ask whether something might be true.

What is by any chance in other languages?

Türkçe: acaba · Español: por casualidad · Français: par hasard · Deutsch: zufällig · Italiano: per caso · 日本語: ひょっとして

How do you pronounce by any chance?

In American English /baɪ ˌɛni ˈtʃæns/; in British English /baɪ ˌeni ˈtʃɑːns/.

How do you use by any chance in a sentence?

Are you busy by any chance? Have you seen my keys by any chance?

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by any chance in other languages

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