2007-07-14 00:09:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Ovidsnose is basically correct, but in that case I'm not sure it's quite right to say the two expressions "mean the same thing".
Attitude and emphasis are PART of the overall meaning of an expression, so the addition of sarcasm in "fat chance" (and related expressions like "fat lot of good it will do") distinguishes it. That is, the sarcastic tone of "fat chance" includes an ATTITUDE that's not present in "slim chance".
Also, as others have suggested "there's a slim chance" expresses at least SOME hope, whereas the skeptical "fat chance" expresses NO real hope.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/fat+chance
2007-07-15 08:04:27 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because when you say "fat chance", it's said with a sarcastic tone. The sarcasm makes the two opposite phrases mean the same thing.
Though I don't think I've ever heard "fat chance" used positively..."your chances of success are fat!"
Good question.
2007-07-14 07:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by OvidsNose 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When do two yesses always mean no? When someone asks you to loan them a thousand dollars and you go yea, yea. Same kind of thing with fat chance. It means no way. Slim chance means possible but not probable
2007-07-20 23:15:55 · answer #3 · answered by willy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are other such pairs. How about flammable and inflammable? Good and "bad"?
And then there are all the cases where a single word has opposite meanings (like "sanction"). There is an interesting page on "antagonyms" that has a bunch of them.
There was a kid in our high school class from Falls Church, VA. He always called it Fat Chance, VA. Then he went on to an Ivy League school and became a general.
2007-07-14 07:26:20 · answer #4 · answered by RE 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i thought fat means more but after seeing the first answer, .i am rethinking as if i never noticed use of fat with chances
After writing above i consulted dictionary. Chance means- possibility of some thing happening- which you want. In case there is no possibility- it is no chance.
If you think there is no chance but some miracle is possible it is fat chance.
If you think chances are rare these are demonstrated by rare or outside chance.
If the thing you want to happen is possible but the possibility very small- the chances are known as slim, slight and very little
2007-07-14 07:19:57 · answer #5 · answered by VP 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fat chance is expressing the joke a little further is all.When you tell me something i do not agree with i will say Yeah right.I dont really mean you are right.See what im saying?
2007-07-20 22:53:51 · answer #6 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They mean different things except that we always say fat chance sarcastically
2007-07-20 03:22:53 · answer #7 · answered by fishygirl2010 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fat chance = no chance
Slim chance = you have a chance however small, you have a chance
2007-07-14 07:13:59 · answer #8 · answered by Ya-sai 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
One is supposed to be used sarcasticly while the other is supposed to be used seriously
2007-07-18 13:19:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, i never thought about it. Sounds weird though.
2007-07-14 07:15:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋