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.)

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.