Search
to not have a (single) prayer
01
to have no chance of achieving success
![to {not} [have] a (single|) prayer definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/17557/original/unlucky?type=jpeg "to {not} [have] a (single|) prayer definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "not have a prayer" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "not have a prayer" is uncertain, but it may be related to the idea of prayer as a form of supplication or appeal to a higher power for help or mercy. The phrase has been in use in English since at least the mid-20th century, and it has been applied to a wide range of situations, including personal and financial struggles, legal cases, and sports competitions. In general, the phrase is used to describe a situation where success is so unlikely that even divine intervention would not be enough to bring it about.
Example
The team was so outmatched by their opponents that they didn't have a single prayer of winning the game.
After the devastating earthquake, many people were trapped under the rubble and didn't have a prayer of being rescued.
Without any experience or training, he didn't have a prayer of getting the job.
Nearby Words
