Lucky Expressions

Lucky Expressions Lucky Expressions Lucky Expressions By Maeve Maddox Reader Emma requests a post on the expression lucked out: The †¦ times Ive heard people using [lucked out] to mean youre out of luck as opposed to expressing good luck or fortune is bordering on ridiculous. The expression to luck out is an American coinage dating from 1954. It means to succeed through luck. Specifically, according to the OED, it is to succeed in a difficult, testing, or dangerous situation. For example: He really lucked out on that exam; every question he had studied for was on it. The expression to be out of luck means to be unfortunate. For example: Youre out of luck: the last train has left the station. Two other uses of luck as a verb are: to luck into: to acquire by good fortune, without effort on ones part. Example: He lucked into a sweet deal on that car. to luck upon: to meet with, to find. Example: He lucked upon some old clothes he had wanted to give away†¦ The noun luck entered English in the 15th century from a Dutch word meaning happiness or good fortune. Its related to German Glà ¼ck, fortune, good luck. The multiplicity of expressions with the word luck, incorporate associations with Chance and Fortune in the sense of the powers that arrange the uncertain fates of human beings. One can have good luck, bad luck, or ill luck. My father used the expression If he didnt have bad luck, hed have no luck at all. People say that its good luck to find a four-leaf clover, but bad luck to break a mirror. Some people are said to have good luck, meaning that they are generally fortunate, while some are said to have no luck, meaning that they are generally unfortunate. Here are just a few more of the many expressions that employ the noun luck: Good luck! said to someone setting off to some uncertain undertaking like an exam or an audition. Better luck next time! said to someone who has failed to achieve some goal. Just my luck! said by someone who has missed out on something desired. To be down on ones luck to be in straitened circumstances, for example, jobless. Luck of the Irish a contradictory expression that can mean either bad luck, or extraordinary good luck, depending on the context. The Best of British luck usually meant ironically, the way Americans might say Good luck with that. The sense is go ahead and try, but youre probably not going to succeed. Trust to luck undertake a difficult task with insufficient preparation, hoping that all will go well. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:Time Words: Era, Epoch, and Eon7 Proofreading Steps