by any chance
The phrase "by any chance" is commonly used in English to make questions or requests sound more polite and less direct.
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Definition
B2General
(polite)Used to inquire politely about the possibility of something being true or happening.
Example
- Do you have a pen I could borrow, by any chance?
- Are you, by any chance, going to the grocery store?
B2General
(polite)Used to make a request or ask a question in a tentative or indirect manner.
Example
- By any chance, could you help me with this project?
- Do you know, by any chance, where the nearest bank is?
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "by any chance":
by chanceby any meanshappen byby the wayby accidentby the byby all meansjust in caseif anythingin case