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Reader question: Please explain “fighting chance” in this passage, on schoolchild care: Next, experts say antibacterial hand sanitizer is good but hand washing is best. The rule of thumb, use hot water, soap and wash long enough to sing: “Happy Birthday” twice. Then it’s about keeping their immune system up to give them a fighting chance against these common illnesses. Make sure they get enough sleep. School age kids need 10-11 hours a night. And exercise at least 40 minutes a day and eat a healthy diet rich in vitamin C. My comments: I got it. Keeping one’s immune system up gives one, be they kids or adults, the best opportunity in disease prevention. Even if they catch an illness, if his or her immune system is healthy and strong, then it’ll be relatively easy for them to get well again, and soon. So, get enough sleep, eat healthy meals and exercise regularly. But anyways, “fighting chance” here means if their immune system is strong, they’ll have a realistic chance against common illnesses. The question is, why fighting chance? They’ll have a chance will do, as a matter of fact. “Fighting” serves mostly as an emphasis, emphasizing, that is, the fact that the chance is real. Fighting, as fighting a fist fight or gun battle, also suggests it’s still a struggle. You’ll still have to fight, or work, in order to win or, in our example, for kids to conquer some common illnesses. | 
