on the off chanceHOPEif you do something on the off chance, you do it hoping for a particular result, although you know it is not likely 希望〔某事〕会发生,对…抱有一线希望 I didn’t really expect her to be at home. I just called on the off chance. 我没期望她会在家,我只是打个电话试试。
→ off-chanceon the off chance• Much effort went into tracing remote family connections abroad on the off chance of identifying a benefactor.• I keep all of my old clothes on the off chance that they might come back into fashion.• I asked him on the off chance.• She thought of ringing him on the off chance of catching him at the flat, but shelved the possibility as unlikely.
→ on the off chance at chance1(7)