Fat/slim chance

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Taka

#48006 Wed, 29 Sep 04 02:03 PM

Why does "fat chance" have almost the same, negative meaning as "slim chance"??

I don't get it.

Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004

Japan

Senior Member (2,351)

Mister Micawber

#48029 Wed, 29 Sep 04 03:35 PM

And 'fat chance' is even less chance than 'slim chance'-- ain't English great, Taka? Perhaps the coiner was being ironic.

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,704)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

matthewg

#48034 Wed, 29 Sep 04 03:51 PM

It's an antagonym: a single word that has meanings which contradict each other

Joined on Mon, Sep 6 2004

Full Member (395)

Taka

#48060 Wed, 29 Sep 04 05:05 PM

Interesting. So it's like a "great" man is not necessarily a great man in its literal sense, right?