hard luck

Idioms and Phrases

Misfortune, adversity, as in He's had a lot of hard luck in his day . This expression is also used in the phrase hard-luck story , a tale of one's misfortune that is related in order to get sympathy (or a donation). For example, We can't ignore her hard-luck story, even if you doubt that it's true . [Second half of 1500s] Also see tough break .

Example Sentences

He added that the upheaval was indicative of the hard luck of California Republicans.

From Los Angeles Times

They will also tell a hard luck story after referee Michael Oliver's declined to award a penalty after the video assistant referee studied what looked like a handball by Jack Grealish from Cole Palmer's second-half free-kick before deciding no offence had been committed.

From BBC

The time for hard luck stories and excuses has gone.

From BBC

But now, with just 10 matches remaining, they need significantly more than goodwill and hard luck.

From BBC

But after scoring only 59 and losing eight wickets in the last 10 overs of their own innings, England cannot put this defeat down to the conditions or any kind of hard luck.

From BBC

Related Words

• hapless
• miserable
• tragic
• unhappy