by any chance

par hasard

S'emploie pour demander poliment si quelque chose est peut-être vrai.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : 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?)

Synonymes : perhaps, possibly

Expressions courantes : know by any chance, available by any chance, by any chance nearby

par un hasard quelconque, par hasard

Grâce à un événement imprévu ou à un coup de chance, sans l'avoir prévu.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : if … by any chance (If the seeds survive by any chance, we will plant them.)

Synonymes : by accident, by chance

Contraires : deliberately

Expressions courantes : happen by any chance, survive by any chance, arise by any chance