luck
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and colloquial registers).
Definition
Meaning
Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions; the phenomenon of events happening by chance in a way that is beneficial or detrimental.
A general force or principle believed to operate in favor of or against a person; one's personal fortune or lot in life; used as a verb to describe successfully achieving something by chance ('to luck into').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is non-countable in its core meaning. It encompasses both good and bad outcomes (e.g., 'good luck', 'bad luck'), though often used alone to imply good fortune. The verb form is informal and typically requires a particle (e.g., 'luck out', 'luck into').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal semantic difference. The verb 'to luck out' is predominantly American English, meaning to have a stroke of good luck. In British English, this meaning is less common and might be misunderstood as the opposite (to run out of luck); 'to be in luck' is preferred.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The concept is culturally associated with superstition, chance, and fortune.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties. The noun form is equally common. The phrasal verb 'luck out' is significantly more frequent in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + luck (We had no luck)wish + someone + luck (I wished him luck)bring + luck (This charm brings good luck)verb + by + luck (I found it by pure luck)luck + verb (My luck changed/has run out)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Better to be born lucky than rich”
- “Any luck?”
- “As luck would have it”
- “Beginner's luck”
- “Down on your luck”
- “Just my luck!”
- “Luck of the devil/Irish”
- “Push your luck”
- “Ride your luck”
- “Try your luck”
- “With any luck”
- “Worse luck!”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe market fluctuations or unexpected successes/failures not attributable to strategy (e.g., 'The profit was more down to luck than judgment').
Academic
Used cautiously, often in sociology or psychology to discuss perceptions of chance and fortune; more common in phrases like 'by chance' or 'randomly'.
Everyday
Extremely common in social interactions for well-wishing ('Good luck!'), explaining outcomes ('It was just luck'), or commiserating ('Hard luck!').
Technical
Rare in technical contexts except in statistics/game theory as the antithesis of skill or probability ('separating skill from luck').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I really lucked upon a fantastic flat in a great neighbourhood.
- He didn't prepare but somehow lucked through the exam.
American English
- She lucked out and got front-row tickets.
- We lucked into a last-minute cancellation at the resort.
adverb
British English
- The ball luckily bounced in our favour.
- Luckily for us, the rain held off until we finished the picnic.
American English
- Luckily, I had a backup copy of the file.
- The car luckily swerved just in time to avoid the deer.
adjective
British English
- He's a lucky chap to have such a supportive family.
- That was a very lucky guess on the quiz.
American English
- You're lucky you didn't get a speeding ticket.
- It was a lucky break that led to his big opportunity.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Good luck with your exam!
- I had bad luck. I lost my keys.
- He is a lucky man.
- We found the restaurant by pure luck.
- Wish me luck for my job interview tomorrow.
- I hope my luck changes soon.
- As luck would have it, the one day I was late, the boss arrived early.
- Against all odds, she succeeded through a combination of skill and sheer luck.
- They're pushing their luck by asking for another extension.
- His meteoric rise was attributed less to genius and more to a fortuitous confluence of luck and timing.
- The veteran gambler knew that to ride one's luck was to invite catastrophe.
- A serendipitous discovery in the lab, borne of luck more than design, led to the breakthrough.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shiny, lucky clover with the letters L-U-C-K on its four leaves.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUCK IS A FLUID SUBSTANCE (have luck, run out of luck); LUCK IS A PERSON (Lady Luck, luck smiled on me); LUCK IS A CONTAINER (in luck, out of luck).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'luck' for 'судьба' (fate/destiny) in a deterministic sense. Luck is chance-based, while fate is often seen as preordained.
- Do not translate 'удачи!' literally as '*to luck!'. Use 'Good luck!' or 'Best of luck!'
- The adjective 'lucky' (удачливый) is more common than the noun in many Russian equivalents.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (*a luck). Correct: 'a piece/stroke of luck'.
- Confusing 'luck out' (AmE: succeed by luck) with 'run out of luck'.
- Overusing 'luck' to explain outcomes where 'coincidence' or 'chance' is more precise.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is primarily used in American English to mean 'have a stroke of good luck'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'luck' is an uncountable noun. You cannot say 'a luck'. Instead, use phrases like 'a piece of luck', 'a stroke of luck', or 'a bit of luck'.
They are often synonyms. However, 'fortune' can imply a larger, more lasting state of prosperity ('to make a fortune'), while 'luck' is more immediate and chance-based. 'Fortune' can also sound slightly more formal or literary.
It means to take a risk by trying to get more of something, especially after already having had some success, in a way that might cause you to lose what you have. Example: 'You've already had one cookie; don't push your luck by asking for another.'
No. The verb 'to luck' is almost always used with a prepositional particle like 'into' or 'out'. The correct form would be 'I lucked into a ticket' (AmE) or, more commonly in BrE, 'I managed to get a ticket by luck'.