luck

¹

[ luhk ]

noun

1. 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.

2. good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance:

   He had no luck finding work.

3. 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.

4. some object on which good fortune is supposed to depend:

   This rabbit's foot is my luck.

verb phrase

1. to have an instance or run of exceptionally good luck:

   He lucked out when he made a hole in one during the tournament.

2. to meet, acquire, become, etc., by good luck:

   She lucked into a great job.

3. to come across by chance:

   to luck upon a profitable investment.

Łuck

²

[ lootsk; Polish wootsk ]

noun

1. Polish name of Lutsk.

luck

/ lʌk /

noun

1. events that are beyond control and seem subject to chance; fortune
2. success or good fortune
3. something considered to bring good luck
4. down on one's luck
   having little or no good luck to the point of suffering hardships
5. no such luck informal.
   unfortunately not
6. try one's luck
   to attempt something that is uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of luck¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English luk, from Middle Dutch luc, shortened from gelucke; cognate with German Glück

Word History and Origins

Origin of luck¹

C15: from Middle Dutch luc; related to Middle High German gelücke, late Old Norse lukka, lykka

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. down on one's luck, in unfortunate circumstances; unlucky:

   She hated to see her old friend so down on her luck.

2. in luck, lucky; fortunate:

   We were in luck, for the bakery was still open.

3. luck of the draw, the luck one has in or as if in drawing cards.
4. out of luck, unlucky; unfortunate:

   When it comes to getting World Series tickets, we're usually out of luck.

5. push one's luck, Informal. to try to make too much of an opportunity; go too far. Also crowd one's luck.

More idioms and phrases containing luck

• 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)

Example Sentences

There are also flashes of images that frankly, we couldn't make any sense of, but maybe you'll have better luck:

From Salon

Over the last five years, more and more migrants have decided to try their luck following the same path - known as the Eastern Mediterranean route.

From BBC

For seconds, a World Cup qualifying campaign that will require luck in the draw to navigate.

From BBC

And on Sunday afternoon, instead of receiving the good news that Johnson and Co. might have expected, the luck of the draw left Sparks representative Rickea Jackson gasping in disbelief instead of cheering in glee.

From Los Angeles Times

Skill, audacity and patience, criminal connections, a fair amount of luck, and inspiration from a Sherlock Holmes story culminated in a weekend of high drama and barely believable farce.

From BBC