luck
the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities: With my luck I'll probably get pneumonia.
good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance: He had no luck finding work.
a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person: She's had nothing but bad luck all year.
some object on which good fortune is supposed to depend: This rabbit's foot is my luck.
luck into / onto to meet, acquire, become, etc., by good luck: She lucked into a great job.
luck out, to have an instance or run of exceptionally good luck: He lucked out when he made a hole in one during the tournament.
luck upon, to come across by chance: to luck upon a profitable investment.
Idioms about luck
down on one's luck, in unfortunate circumstances; unlucky: She hated to see her old friend so down on her luck.
in luck, lucky; fortunate:We were in luck, for the bakery was still open.
luck of the draw, the luck one has in or as if in drawing cards.
out of luck, unlucky; unfortunate: When it comes to getting World Series tickets, we're usually out of luck.
push one's luck, Informal. to try to make too much of an opportunity; go too far.: Also crowd one's luck.
Origin of luck
1Words Nearby luck
Other definitions for Łuck (2 of 2)
Polish name of Lutsk.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use luck in a sentence
In part, it’s just bad luck that the United States is being slammed with these events back-to-back-to-back.
What’s behind August 2020’s extreme weather? Climate change and bad luck | Carolyn Gramling | August 27, 2020 | Science NewsThe NBA draft lottery isn’t all about luck — teams tank for a reason, of course — but the bouncing pingpong balls do play a big role.
The NBA’s Unluckiest Lottery Team Finally Got A Good Bounce | Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com) | August 21, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightThe next point on the luck end of the spectrum was the stock market.
The Economics of Sports Gambling (Ep. 388 Rebroadcast) | Stephen J. Dubner | August 20, 2020 | FreakonomicsThe most you can do is put yourself in the path of luck—but to think you can guess with certainty the actual outcome is a presumptuousness the true poker player foregoes.
The Deck Is Not Rigged: Poker and the Limits of AI | Maria Konnikova | August 7, 2020 | Singularity HubSo stats achieved before they can stabilize are mostly the result of luck.
The MLB Records* That Could Fall In A 60-Game Season | Michael Salfino | August 3, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
And good luck getting the song (and music video) to “Chandelier” out of your head.
The 10 Best Albums of 2014: Taylor Swift, Sia, Run the Jewels, and More | Marlow Stern | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Horse You Came in On Saloon, Baltimore Horse-themed bars must be bad luck for famous authors.
Wearing the right foot of a chicken was considered good luck.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity | William O’Connor | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut good luck convincing other countries that the case against North Korea is airtight.
The story follows a down on his luck family man named Bill Scanlon (Wes Bentley), who takes to stealing after losing his job.
G was a gamester, who had but ill-luck; H was a Hunter, who hunted a buck.
I wouldn't go on if I were you, sir; the luck's dead against you to-night; I wouldn't go on, indeed I wouldn't.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThen my luck changed and I found myself under one of the very greatest teachers of his time, Professor Huxley.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsBy bad luck d'Amade was away, up in the front trenches, and I could not well deliver myself to des Coigns.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonWell, we must try our luck with a regulation sabre; they can't well refuse it; ours is the stronger and bigger man.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
British Dictionary definitions for luck
/ (lʌk) /
events that are beyond control and seem subject to chance; fortune
success or good fortune
something considered to bring good luck
down on one's luck having little or no good luck to the point of suffering hardships
no such luck informal unfortunately not
try one's luck to attempt something that is uncertain
Origin of luck
1- See also luck out
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with luck
In addition to the idioms beginning with luck
- luck into
- luck of the devil
- luck of the draw
- luck out
also see:
- as luck would have it
- beginner's luck
- down on one's luck
- good luck
- hard luck
- in luck
- out of luck
- push one's luck
- run of luck
- take pot luck
- tough break (luck)
- try one's hand (luck)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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