luck
noun /lʌk/
/lʌk/
[uncountable]Idioms - good things that happen to you by chance, not because of your own efforts or abilities
- with (any) luck With any luck, we'll be home before dark.
- (British English) With a bit of luck, we'll finish on time.
- luck with doing something So far I have had no luck with finding a job.
- luck with something I'm not having much luck with buses.
- luck with somebody I never had much luck (= had a successful relationship) with women.
- I could hardly believe my luck when he said yes.
- It was a stroke of luck that we found you.
- by luck By sheer luck nobody was hurt in the explosion.
- The only goal of the match came more by luck than judgement.
- We wish her luck in her new career.
- She wears a red bracelet to bring her luck.
- in luck You're in luck (= lucky)—there's one ticket left.
- out of luck You're out of luck. She's not here.
- What a piece of luck!
- Finally my luck ran out and they caught me trying to climb the outer wall.
Extra Examples- I haven't had much luck recently.
- I thought I was going to miss the train but luck was on my side.
- If our luck holds, we should win.
- You make your own luck in business.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- better
- good
- great
- …
- piece
- stroke
- have
- bring (somebody)
- give somebody
- …
- desert somebody
- run out
- continue
- …
- by… luck
- for luck
- in luck
- …
- as luck would have it
- beginner’s luck
- better luck next time
- …
- chance; the force that causes good or bad things to happen to people synonym fortune
- to have good/bad luck
- I put the loss of the money down to pure bad luck.
- luck with something We had horrible luck with the weather.
- Chinese people believe that boys bring good luck and money to the family.
- myths based on the idea that owls bring bad luck
- She dared not trust to luck that nobody would see her.
Synonyms lucklucksee also hard-luck story- chance
- coincidence
- accident
- fate
- destiny
- luck the force that causes good or bad things to happen to people:
- This ring has always brought me good luck.
- chance the way that some things happen without any cause that you can see or understand:
- The results could simply be due to chance.
- coincidence the fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way:
- They met through a series of strange coincidences.
- accident something that happens unexpectedly and is not planned in advance:
- Their early arrival was just an accident.
- fate the power that is believed to control everything that happens and that cannot be stopped or changed:
- Fate decreed that she would never reach America.
- destiny the power that is believed to control events:
- I believe there’s some force guiding us—call it God, destiny or fate.
- by …luck/chance/coincidence/accident
- It’s no coincidence/accident that…
- pure/sheer luck/chance/coincidence/accident
- to believe in luck/coincidences/fate/destiny
Wordfinder- amulet
- charm
- coincidence
- fate
- fortune
- jinx
- luck
- mascot
- superstition
- talisman
Extra Examples- By ill luck, my flight had been cancelled.
- He went on gambling, sure his luck was about to change.
- I decided to try my luck at the roulette wheel.
- It was rotten luck to be ill on the day of the interview.
- More bad luck struck last week.
- This ring has always brought me good luck.
- My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- better
- good
- great
- …
- piece
- stroke
- have
- bring (somebody)
- give somebody
- …
- desert somebody
- run out
- continue
- …
- by… luck
- for luck
- in luck
- …
- as luck would have it
- beginner’s luck
- better luck next time
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): perhaps from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch lucken. The noun use (late 15th cent.) is from Middle Low German lucke, related to Dutch geluk, German Glück, of West Germanic origin and possibly related to lock (verb).
Idioms
any luck?
- (informal) used to ask somebody if they have been successful with something
- ‘Any luck?’ ‘No, they're all too busy to help.’
Express Yourself Wishing somebody luckWishing somebody luckIf someone is going to do something difficult, you can wish them luck:
- Good luck!
- The best of luck for the exam!
- I hope it goes well! We'll be thinking about you.
- All the best! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
- Thanks.
- I'll do my best.
as luck would have it
- in the way that chance decides what will happen
- As luck would have it, the train was late.
bad, hard, etc. luck (on somebody)
- used to express sympathy for somebody
- Bad luck, Helen, you played very well.
- It's hard luck on him that he wasn't chosen.
- What rotten luck it had to happen now!
be down on your luck
- (informal) to have no money because of a period of bad luck
- In the movie they play two jazz musicians who are down on their luck.
the best of luck (with something) | good luck (with something)
- (informal) used to wish somebody success with something
- The best of luck with your exams.
- Good luck! I hope it goes well.
- (ironic) ‘I'm going to try giving up social media for a year.’ ‘Good luck with that (= I don't think you will succeed).’
better luck next time
- (informal) used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something
- Never mind— better luck next time.
- If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.
for luck
- because you believe it will bring you good luck, or because this is a traditional belief
- Take something blue. It's for luck.
- I always carry it with me, just for luck.
- (informal) for no particular reason
- I gave the mixture one more stir for luck.
good luck to somebody
- (informal) used to say that you do not mind what somebody does as it does not affect you, but you hope they will be successful
- It's not something I would care to try myself but if she wants to, good luck to her.
hard luck
- (British English) used to tell somebody that you feel sorry for them
- ‘Failed again, I'm afraid.’ ‘Oh, hard luck.’
just my/somebody’s luck
- (informal) used to show you are not surprised something bad has happened to you, because you are not often lucky
- Just my luck to arrive after they had left.
- Just my luck to get the broken chair!
your/somebody’s luck is in
- used to say that somebody has been lucky or successful
- On a Sunday I didn’t expect to find him at his desk but my luck was in.
the luck of the draw
- the fact that chance decides something, in a way that you cannot control
- To a large extent the life you have depends on who your parents were; it’s just the luck of the biological draw.
no such luck
- used to show that you are disappointed because something you were hoping for did not happen
- ‘Were you chosen for the team?’ ‘No such luck!’
pot luck
- when you take pot luck, you choose something or go somewhere without knowing very much about it, but hope that it will be good, pleasant, etc.
- It's pot luck whether you get good advice or not.
- You're welcome to stay to supper, but you'll have to take pot luck (= eat whatever is available).
push your luck | push it/things
- (informal) to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
- You didn't get caught last time, but don't push your luck!
tough luck (informal)
- used to show sympathy for somebody that something bad that has happened to
- ‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’
- (ironic) used to show that you do not feel sorry for somebody who has a problem
- ‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’
try your luck (at something)
- to do something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed
- My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.
worse luck!
- (British English, informal) used to show that you are disappointed about something
- I shall have to miss the party, worse luck!