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definitions

luck

[luhk]
|

noun

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.

Verb Phrases Informal.

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Nearby words

  1. lucite,
  2. lucius,
  3. lucius i,
  4. lucius ii,
  5. lucius iii,
  6. luck into,
  7. luck of the devil,
  8. luck of the draw,
  9. luck out,
  10. luckie

Idioms

Origin of luck

1400–50; late Middle English luk < Middle Dutch luc, aphetic form of gelucke; cognate with G. Glück
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for down on one's luck

luck

noun

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
See also luck out

Word Origin for luck

C15: from Middle Dutch luc; related to Middle High German gelücke, late Old Norse lukka, lykka
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
Word Origin and History for down on one's luck
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with down on one's luck

down on one's luck

Afflicted by misfortune, as in They've been down on their luck ever since they moved out West. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

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.