Do you consider yourself a lucky person? Whether you feel like luck is always on your side or you’re a bit down on your luck, these lucky idioms will help you describe the situation. You can also use some of these to wish someone good luck ahead of a big event.
Idioms can be hard to understand when you first see them, so we have included definitions and example sentences with all of these idioms about luck.
Lucky idioms
Beginner’s luck
Talk about lucky idioms, and beginner’s luck may jump to mind. This is the good luck that people who are new to something are said to experience.
“I can’t believe that she only started gymnatiscs 6 months ago and won the champinonship today. Beginner’s luck I guess?”
Push your luck
This idiom about luck is not about good luck. When you push your luck, you are taking a risk by continuing to do something, hoping that you will be successful.
It suggests that you have already been fortunate to some extent, and now you should stop asking for more or continuing a certain action.
“Ok, I’ve lisened to your argument and can agree to a few small changes, but don’t push your luck.”
“You had pancakes for breakfast and now you want an ice cream?! I know we’re on vacation, but don’t push your luck!”
The luck of the draw
Here’s an informal way to say that the outcome of something can’t be controlled and is simply down to chance.
The luck of the draw may be used as a sports idiom, said at sporting events in which teams are drawn out at random to play each other. However, you can also use it when discussing other situations you can’t influence.
“I can’t believe York City is playing Man United. I guess that’s just the luck of the draw!”
“I’m gutted that I’m working the night shift all week, but that’s the luck of the draw sometimes.”
Although this idiom is not strictly about bad luck, it is generally spoken to offer some consolation when things didn’t work out as hoped.
Strike it lucky
Here’s another good luck idiom found mainly in British English. When you strike it lucky, you have unexpected good luck in a certain situation.
“I really struck it lucky and passed the test.”
A similar money idiom is to ‘strike it rich’, meaning to suddenly or unexpectedly acquire a great deal of money.
Luck on your side
Saying that someone has luck on their side is simply another way of saying that they are lucky. Often it is used in the past tense to say that they were fortunate with the outcome of a certain situation.
“Looks like luck is on our side today. My mother just called to say she won’t be coming to dinner after all.”
“Although she was a novice she had luck on her side, and made her way into second place.”
Down on your luck
Conversely, someone who is down on their luck is having a string of bad luck, or it seems like things are just not going well for them in life.
“James seems down on his luck these days. He lost his job and then his girlfriend.”
Interestingly, the opposite ‘up on your luck’ is not a valid idiom about luck.
Some idioms about bad things happening could also be helpful to describe this kind of situation.
Lucky streak
Normally, a lucky streak would describe a string of wins in a casino while gambling. However, you can use it whenever someone keeps winning any kind of game, or indeed when they have just been fortunate in a series of events.
“She’s won ten games in a row. She’s really on a lucky streak.”
As luck would have it
Here’s a good luck idiom made popular by William Shakespeare. Nowadays, we simply say as luck would have it, but originally it included the word ‘good’. This phrase describes a lucky occurrence.
“I thought I didn’t have any money for the taxi home, but as luck would have it, I found $10 in my jacket pocket!”
For more details on the play this is from and other Shakespearian sayings, enjoy our William Shakespeare idioms list.
You should be so lucky
Idioms about luck can be said about yourself, someone else, or a situation in general. If someone mentions that you should be so lucky, they are being informal and a little sarcastic. They are saying that whatever you are talking about is highly unlikely to happen or be successful.
“I entered the competition to win a new car.” “Ha! You should be so lucky!”
This luck idiom can be used in the first person too, to say that you doubt something will happen to you.
“Me, win the lottery? I should be so lucky!”
Born under a lucky star
This is a fun good-luck idiom that you’ll hear from time to time. When someone seems to be very fortunate or simply does well no matter what they apply themselves to, you could joke that they were probably born under a lucky star.
“I can’t believe that Dave is being fast-tracked to the management position. He really was born under a lucky star.”
It’s curious how quite a few star idioms are about luck and good fortune.
Happy-go-lucky
Although this looks like a lucky idiom, it is more about a personality trait. Someone who is happy-go-lucky is cheerful and unconcerned about the future; a relaxed person, who doesn’t plan too much and likes to take each day as it comes.
‘She’s such a happy-go-lucky child.”
Discover some more happiness idioms here.
Bless your lucky stars / Thank your lucky stars
The saying bless or thank your lucky stars is a lovely way to say you feel grateful for something or someone, or to suggest that someone else adopts this attitude.
“I thank my lucky stars I met you.”
“You should bless your lucky stars that you have a stable income.”
This good luck idiom alludes to the ancient belief that the stars somehow had an influence over people’s destinies.
Third time lucky / Third time’s the charm
A good example of idioms heard more in the UK than the US, these lucky idioms are used to suggest that after failing at something twice, you will succeed on the third try.
“Yes, I’m so glad that worked. The third time really is the charm.’
“I’ve failed my driving test twice, but third time lucky!”
The number three is mentioned a lot in English idioms, like ‘third time lucky’, ‘bad news comes in threes’, and ‘three’s a crowd’. So why is the number three so popular?
You’ll be lucky
On the surface, you may think that saying they’ll be lucky is just a nice way to wish someone good luck. In fact, it’s said sarcastically meaning the opposite: that actually, whatever is being hoped for is very unlikely to happen.
“Oh, he wants to borrow the car for the weekend, does he? Well, he’ll be lucky!”
The Best of British to you
Some of these luck idioms are mainly used in the UK. When you wish someone the best of British; you are wishing them good luck even though you believe they may not be successful.
“You’re going to ask for a raise? The best of British to you!”
Here are some more British-themed idioms to look through.
Break a leg
Believe it or not, to tell someone to break a leg is actually a way of wishing them good luck. This phrase originated in theaters, where saying the words ‘good luck’ is seen as unlucky. However, this expression is commonly used in other situations nowadays too.
“I heard your first show is tonight. Break a leg!’
Fingers crossed
This lucky idiom is something that you can do as well as say. You can either say fingers crossed or actually cross your fingers as a sign that you wish for someone or something to succeed.
“Sue has her fifth driving test this afternoon, so fingers crossed she’ll pass!”
There are lots more idioms for success that you can use to celebrate achievements.
Pot luck / Potluck
This saying has two meanings, depending on how you spell it. To take pot luck on something is to take a chance that whatever is available will work out or be good enough.
“Let’s not book anywhere. We’ll just take pot luck and see what’s availble when we get there.”
The other way potluck is used is more of an American English term. It’s a party or meal style in which everyone brings a dish for the buffet to share with everyone else.
“What are you bringing for the potluck at church this weekend?”
More by accident than by design
When something goes well or is achieved simply due to coincidence or luck, rather than the skill or planning of the people involved, you may hear someone say that it was more by accident than design.
“In the end we won the new busines account, but honestly it was more by accident than by design.”
Murphy’s law
Finally, it only feels right to end the list of lucky idioms with the polar opposite: Murphy’s law. This is a belief that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. A common example of this is a slice of bread landing buttered side down when dropped.
‘I can’t believe it’s raining on my wedding day. Talk about Murphy’s Law!”
There really are plenty of lucky idioms and ways to wish someone good luck in English. Leave a comment if you have any questions or can think of other luck idioms to add to this list.
