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 PhrasesInformal.
luck into / ontoto 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.
VIDEO FOR LUCK
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Idioms for 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
1400–50; late Middle English luk<Middle Dutch luc, aphetic form of gelucke; cognate with G. Glück
Words nearby luck
Lucite, Lucius, Lucius I, Lucius II, Lucius III, luck, luckie, luckily, luck into, luckless, Lucknow
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 News
The 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|FiveThirtyEight
The 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|Freakonomics
The 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 Hub
So 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
The story follows a down on his luck family man named Bill Scanlon (Wes Bentley), who takes to stealing after losing his job.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain|Rich Goldstein|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rick suggests a Woodbury-esque sneak attack on the hospital and lays out a meticulous strategy relying heavily on timing and luck.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason Finale|Melissa Leon|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Danish Air Force, as luck would have it, had just the aircraft.
The American Ebola Rescue Plan Hinges on One Company. Meet Phoenix.|Abby Haglage|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As luck would have it, right in front of me were lawyers from the same firm representing the plaintiffs.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’|Jay Michaelson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"We knew the chances and we knew that the statistics and luck were not necessarily in our favor," she said.
How to Run a Statewide Campaign on $38|Michael Ames|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's all luck about Nanny's eyes; and maybe you are only throwing away a chance you'll never have again.'
Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag|Louisa M. Alcott
We really ought to be dancing—but I'll try my luck once more on No. 4.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 103, November 12, 1892|Various
"I bet I will," said the venturesome one; and he set off to try his luck.
Memoirs of an American Prima Donna|Clara Louise Kellogg
"Bit of luck I call this, sir," he added, as with the assistance of Simon Quarle he got it onto his shoulders.
The Cruise of the Make-Believes|Tom Gallon
Greif's luck had saved him, and what was life to him was death to Rex.
Greifenstein|F. Marion Crawford
British Dictionary definitions for luck
luck
/ (lʌk) /
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 luckhaving little or no good luck to the point of suffering hardships
no such luckinformalunfortunately not
try one's luckto 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
What Is Your Favorite Way To Say “Tough Luck”?There are so many things you can say when it seems like things aren’t going right. Which saying is your favorite?