What it means
An opportunist who’ll chance their arm, push their luck, or try a dodgy move with pure confidence. A chancer isn’t always reckless, they’re just cheeky enough to ask for the moon and act like it’s normal. Can be admiring or slagging, depending on whether it works out. Honestly, Ireland runs on chancers.
Usage examples
"Young fella strolled in his first week and asked the CEO for a raise, no bother. Absolute chancer, and the mad thing is yer man got it."
"He turned up to the wedding with no invite, talked his way to the top table and left with a goodie bag. Pure chancer."
Where it comes from
It is built straight from chance, the willingness to chance your arm and have a go where most people would not dare. The word grew up in British and especially Irish English, where a bit of cheek is half admired and half tutted at. Calling someone a chancer says they push their luck and somehow keep getting away with it.
Other ways to say it
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