phrasal verb · informal

take a chance (on)

UK/teɪk ə tʃɑːns (ɒn)/US/teɪk ə tʃæns (ɑn)/take·a·CHANCE

speakingtask2

to do something even though there is a risk of failure

Examples

I decided to take a chance on applying for the scholarship.

Sometimes you have to take a chance to get a better job.

She took a chance on the new business idea and it paid off.

Band 8 sentence

Ambitious students sometimes have to take a chance on unconventional career paths.

Collocations

  • take a chance on something
  • take a big/small chance

Word family

take a chance verb phrasechance noun

Common mistakes

take chancetake a chance

take risktake a risk / take a chance

Say it for a higher band

5try6take a risk7+take a chance (on)

Synonyms

take a risk

venture

Easily confused

take a risk

He didn't want to take a risk with his savings.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In take …

Learn it with its set