out of luck

Idioms and Phrases

Having bad fortune, experiencing a misfortune, as in You're out of luck if you want a copy; we just sold the last one . This expression, first recorded in 1867, assumes that good fortune is a finite quantity that one can run out of. However, it generally applies to more temporary circumstances than being down on one's luck .

Example Sentences

White children, too, were often out of luck.

From Slate

“If you were a woman who didn’t want to dress that way, you were kind of out of luck.”

From Los Angeles Times

It is also a blue moon but those hoping to see a bluish shade to the satellite are out of luck.

From BBC

Unless you automatically backed up all your Instagram Stories to your phone’s camera roll, you were out of luck.

From Slate

“If it’s stolen, you’re out of luck,” he said.

From Salon

Related Words

• adverse
• damaging
• deplorable
• disastrous
• inappropriate
• inauspicious
• lamentable
• regrettable
• unlucky
• untoward