Dar chance

/dar CHAN-seh/

To give someone an opportunity, a break, or some space/time.

Level:B1Register:InformalCommon:★★★★★

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To give chance"

What It Really Means:

To give someone an opportunity, a break, or some space/time.

English Equivalents:

To give someone a chanceTo give someone a breakTo cut someone some slackTo give it a shot

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'to give chance'.

✨ Figurative

In practice, it means giving someone an opportunity, some time, or a break.

Key Words in This Idiom:

📝 In Action

Por favor, dame chance de explicarte lo que pasó.

Please, give me a chance to explain what happened.

¡Dame chance! No me dejas pasar.

Give me some room! You're not letting me pass.

Creo que deberíamos darle chance a ese restaurante nuevo.

I think we should give that new restaurant a shot.

📜 Origin Story

This is a fascinating example of how languages mix! The word 'chance' isn't originally Spanish; it's an 'anglicismo,' a word borrowed directly from English. It became incredibly popular in Latin America over the 20th century and is now a completely normal and essential part of everyday informal Spanish there. It's a perfect case of 'Spanglish' becoming standard.

⭐ Usage Tips

It's Not Just for Big Opportunities

While 'dar chance' can mean giving someone a big opportunity (like a job), it's more often used for small, everyday things. Use it to ask for a moment of time ('Dame chance, ya casi termino'), for physical space ('Dame chance para pasar'), or for a second try at something.

A Latin American Favorite

This phrase is a hallmark of Latin American Spanish. If you use it in Mexico, Colombia, or many other countries in the region, you'll sound very natural. In Spain, they would almost always say 'dar una oportunidad' instead.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Situations

Mistake: "Writing 'Le solicito me dé chance para presentar mi propuesta' in a formal business email."

Correction: 'Chance' is very informal. In formal writing or speech, stick to 'oportunidad'. The correct version would be 'Le solicito me dé la oportunidad de presentar mi propuesta'.

🌎 Where It's Used

🌎

Latin America

Extremely common and widely used across most of the continent, especially in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It's a staple of everyday, informal speech.

🇪🇸

Spain

Not commonly used and sounds like a foreignism. Speakers from Spain would almost always use 'dar una oportunidad' instead.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️ Similar Meanings

dar una oportunidad

To give an opportunity (more standard and slightly more formal).

⇆ Opposite Meanings

no dar ni la hora

To completely ignore someone (literally, 'to not even give the time').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Dar chance

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says '¡Dame chance!', what might they be asking for?

🏷️ Tags

Commonly UsedLatin AmericaSituations & CircumstancesLuck

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using 'chance' instead of 'oportunidad' considered bad Spanish?

Not at all, as long as you're in the right context! In informal, spoken Latin American Spanish, 'chance' is perfectly correct and natural. In formal settings or in Spain, 'oportunidad' is the better choice.