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. 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.

2. luck into / onto,  to meet, acquire, become, etc., by good luck.

   She lucked into a great job.

3. luck upon,  to come across by chance.

   to luck upon a profitable investment.

Łuck

²

[lootsk, 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. having little or no good luck to the point of suffering hardships

5. informal,  unfortunately not

6. 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. in luck, lucky; fortunate.

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

2. out of luck, unlucky; unfortunate.

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

3. luck of the draw, the luck one has in or as if in drawing cards.

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

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

   She hated to see her old friend so down on her 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

They rode their luck too many times last season and it ran out in February against the rampant Philadelphia Eagles.

From BBC

But my luck has finally run out, and it must have been the air travel that did me in.

From Los Angeles Times

But no such luck — the adjacent grassy areas managed by the National Park Service obviously hadn’t been mowed in months, yet another reminder of what the regime’s priorities are.

From Salon

The challenge for Anguilla, which has a population of just 16,000 people, is how to harness this lucrative bit of luck and turn it into a long-term and sustainable source of income.

From BBC

Let her get off to a flyer, then good luck.

From BBC