Learn English – Has ‘fat chance’ always been used sarcastically or was it once a factual term

etymologyironyphrase-origin

That 'fat chance' means 'a small chance' (and is always used sarcastically) is clear to me. But what I was wondering about is if the term used to be factual and then changed meaning because it started to be used in a sarcastic way, or has it always been sarcastic and was it never used literally?

(Is that latter option even possible? Isn't it so that the sarcasm actually only works if everybody knows that underneath 'fat' means 'big' here? But I'm above all curious if it ever was a normal term, such as 'slim chance' still is)

Best Answer

I found a few early instances where the use seems to refer to a significant chance, or even an exorbitant or undeserved opportunity, but this intended meaning appears to be rare and was rapidly overwhelmed by the figurative meaning.

Here are a few of the clippings I collected where "fat chance" seems to mean a big chance:

1860

Isaac V. Fowler, the fugitive Postmaster has just recovered from the yellow fever in Cuba, and is going to Mexico to superintend a gold mine, where there will be a fat chance for pickings.

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1873

They read about the eighty percent dividends, and then resolve that the Congressmen who have such fat chances won't get votes so cheap next time.

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1895

...for the men work in such perfect harmony. A glance at their exhibition yesterday was sufficient to show that the Orioles have a "fat" chance to carry off the flag this season.

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