Buckley's chance
Meaning
An extremely small or nonexistent probability of success.
Origin
In 1803, William Buckley, a towering 6-foot-6 English convict, made a desperate escape from the brutal penal colony of Port Phillip, Australia. Fleeing into the vast, uncharted bushland with no supplies, no knowledge of survival, and surrounded by hostile terrain, his chances of living more than a few days were considered utterly nonexistent. He was literally given up for dead. His incredible, against-all-odds survival among an Aboriginal tribe for over three decades cemented his name in Australian folklore, becoming the ultimate byword for a situation where success is utterly improbable or nonexistent.
Examples
- After falling three goals behind in the final ten minutes, the team had Buckley's chance of winning the match.
- With the storm approaching fast and no shelter for miles, they realized they had Buckley's chance of staying dry.