luck

 

The word "luck" can be used as a noun or as an adjective. If a person has luck, he or she has good or bad fortune. Luck is something that can’t be planned. It comes spontaneously.

  • Joan and Bill have a lot of luck. They just won the lottery.
  • With a little luck, Dave will find a new job.
  • Nellie counted too heavily on luck when planning her future.
  • Do you believe in luck?

The word "lucky." is an adjective.

  • They’re very lucky to have found each other.
  • I’m hoping to get a lucky break with some good weather today.
  • You’ll be able to get tickets to that concert if you’re lucky.
  • Helen says she’s feeling lucky today, so she bought some lottery tickets.
  • John’s car broke down on the highway. Luckily, someone pulled up a few minutes later and helped him fix it. (The word "luckily" is an adverb.)

There are some expressions that use "luck" or "lucky."

  • He’s a little down on his luck. (Things are not going well for him.)
  • She’s a lucky duck. (She has a lot of luck.)
  • This is your lucky day. (There’s good news for you.)
  • Of all the luck. (Something bad happened.)
  • They’ve run out of luck. (They were lucky, but now they aren’t.)
  • You’re out of luck. (You can’t have what you asked for.)
  • The luck of the Irish. ("Luck" is often associated with being Irish and Irish culture.)

clover A four-leaf clover is rare but very lucky.

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This page was first published on March 15, 2013. It was updated on February 21, 2017.