chinaman's chance
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Little or no chance of success.
How to use it
✗ Avoid it when
This expression is widely considered racist or offensive today; the history is documented in the notes. Documented here descriptively, not as an endorsement.
Connotation: offensive to many; contested
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “List of idioms considered racist” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review. Why it’s contested: The idiom carries pejorative connotations, alluding to the low probability of success resulting from "the endless social barriers that were thrown up against Chinese immigrants seeking opportunities to advance".
Common questions
What does “chinaman's chance” mean?
Little or no chance of success.
Is “chinaman's chance” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.