Meaning of 'not impossible'

[heiner]

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #23 "Idioms with prepositions", question 3

There's no saying you couldn't pass your exam if you really tried.

(a) There's a possibility
(b) It's not possible
(c) It's not impossible
(d) It's impossible

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #23 "Idioms with prepositions", answer 3

It's not impossible you couldn't pass your exam if you really tried.

Correct answer: (c) It's not impossible

Your answer was: incorrect
It's not possible you couldn't pass your exam if you really tried.
_________________________

what does not impossible mean?

heiner

[Yankee]

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I suspect Heiner may have actually intended to ask about question 3 in the test...
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[Shan]

To me "not impossible" means possible, but it has a slightly different meaning. I think when you say something is "not impossible", you don't feel so certain about the possibility;but at the same time you cannot deny it. Am I correct??

[Yankee]

Hi Shan and welcome to the forum!

I'd say you've hit the nail on the head. You could also say that not impossible means there is only a slight possibility.

[Tamara]

[Conchita]

A lot of ink has already been spilled over this sentence!

'it is not impossible' vs. "there's a possibility"
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic6703.html