Chance would be a fine thing.

Not a saying that I know, Tom, and I don't know what it means.

It's a British expression meaning that what has been mentioned is extremely unlikely to occur, used in a context such as:

- "I'd look good driving a Porsche convertible."
- "Oh, sure, chance would be a fine thing!"

Careful with the intonation if and when you use this phrase. When I've heard it said on Coronation Street, an English soap opera, it's always with the following s

Also, from Wikipedia:

"Given to indicate that an aforementioned thing would be desirable but unlikely. Comparable to if I should be so lucky.
Me winning the lotto? Chance'd be a fine thing."

Mr. TomIs is common among native speakers?

Not in the U.S. Almost no one here would have any idea what it meant.

CJ

CalifJimNot in the U.S. Almost no one here would have any idea what it meant.

However, in the UK it is a well known expression.

Hi,
This is used in the UK when a set of circumstances you'd like to happen, but there's very little chance - see below for an example. I've no idea where it comes from, I'm trying to find out myself.

One example maybe if you're talking to a friend...

"I've got no money"
"Perhaps you'll win the lottery this weekend - it's a rollover - £14 million!"
"Yeah, right! Cha

Well, it means that somethng is so unlikely to happen that to even just get a small chance for it to happen would be an amazing thing.

For example:
If I say I am gonna win the lottery, someone might reply, chance would be a fine thing.