📒 good things that happen to you by chance, not because of your own efforts or abilities
- with (any) luck With any luck, we'll be home before dark.
- (British English) With a bit of luck, we'll finish on time.
- luck with doing something So far I have had no luck with finding a job.
📒 chance; the force that causes good or bad things to happen to people
- to have good/bad luck
- I put the loss of the money down to pure bad luck.
- luck with something We had horrible luck with the weather.
📒 used to ask somebody if they have been successful with something
- ‘Any luck?’ ‘No, they're all too busy to help.’
📒 in the way that chance decides what will happen
- As luck would have it, the train was late.
📒 used to express sympathy for somebody
- Bad luck, Helen, you played very well.
- It's hard luck on him that he wasn't chosen.
- What rotten luck it had to happen now!
📒 to have no money because of a period of bad luck
- In the movie they play two jazz musicians who are down on their luck.
📒 used to wish somebody success with something
- The best of luck with your exams.
- Good luck! I hope it goes well.
- (ironic) ‘I'm going to try giving up social media for a year.’ ‘Good luck with that (= I don't think you will succeed).’
📒 used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something
- Never mind— better luck next time.
- If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.
📒 because you believe it will bring you good luck, or because this is a traditional belief
- Take something blue. It's for luck.
- I always carry it with me, just for luck.
📒 for no particular reason
- I gave the mixture one more stir for luck.
📒 used to say that you do not mind what somebody does as it does not affect you, but you hope they will be successful
- It's not something I would care to try myself but if she wants to, good luck to her.
📒 used to tell somebody that you feel sorry for them
- ‘Failed again, I'm afraid.’ ‘Oh, hard luck.’
📒 used to show you are not surprised something bad has happened to you, because you are not often lucky
- Just my luck to arrive after they had left.
- Just my luck to get the broken chair!
📒 used to say that somebody has been lucky or successful
- On a Sunday I didn’t expect to find him at his desk but my luck was in.
📒 the fact that chance decides something, in a way that you cannot control
- To a large extent the life you have depends on who your parents were; it’s just the luck of the biological draw.
📒 used to show that you are disappointed because something you were hoping for did not happen
- ‘Were you chosen for the team?’ ‘No such luck!’
📒 when you take pot luck, you choose something or go somewhere without knowing very much about it, but hope that it will be good, pleasant, etc.
- It's pot luck whether you get good advice or not.
- You're welcome to stay to supper, but you'll have to take pot luck (= eat whatever is available).
📒 to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
- You didn't get caught last time, but don't push your luck!
📒 used to show sympathy for somebody that something bad that has happened to
- ‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’
📒 used to show that you do not feel sorry for somebody who has a problem
- ‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’
📒 to do something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed
- My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.
📒 used to show that you are disappointed about something
- I shall have to miss the party, worse luck!