blow one's chance
Money & work · Filed under B
In a sentence
- He blew his chance to win the race by tripping over his own feet.
- She blew her chance to get the promotion by arriving late to the job interview.
- They blew their chance to secure a business deal by not presenting a convincing proposal.
Where it comes from and how it is used
The idiom "blow up in one's face" is closely related to the expression "blow one's chance." When something "blows up in one's face," it means that a plan or endeavor has unexpectedly failed or gone wrong, resulting in negative consequences. This can be seen as a more dramatic version of blowing one's chance, as it implies a sudden and dramatic failure that is difficult to recover from.
The word "blow" in the idioms "blow up in one's face" and "blow one's chance" carries a similar metaphorical meaning of causing something to fail or be ruined. It suggests a destructive or negative action that leads to undesirable outcomes. The word "chance" in both idioms refers to an opportunity or possibility, emphasizing the potential for success or failure.
The idioms "blow one's chance," "blow up in one's face," "fancy one's chances," and "dog's chance" are all related expressions that revolve around the concept of opportunities and their outcomes. While blowing one's chance signifies the act of ruining or wasting an opportunity, blowing up in one's face represents a more dramatic failure, fancying one's chances reflects confidence in the possibility of success, and having a dog's chance suggests a lack of opportunity or possibility for success.
Neighbouring idioms
Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.