Hello students! Today is a fantastic day for you! We’re going to explore some important English phrases that revolve around good luck, bad luck, and chance. You’ll notice that many of these phrases include the words “luck” or “lucky,” but they are applied in various contexts.
This lesson aims to clarify the subtle differences between each phrase and show you how to use them naturally in your conversations. Let’s kick things off by looking at the bright side—phrases that express good luck!
There are three common ways to wish someone good luck in English:
These phrases are perfect when you want to show someone that you are rooting for their success.
Here are a few examples:
You can also use “good luck” sarcastically. For instance, if someone says, “I’m hoping for a quick response about my Visa application,” you might respond with “Good luck!” because Visa applications often take months. In this case, the tone of your voice will signal the sarcasm.
This phrase is used when a new or inexperienced person achieves great success, not because of their skill but simply by chance. You might hear:
We use “You’re in luck” when delivering good news to someone.
Now that we’ve covered the positive side of luck, let’s shift gears to explore phrases for bad luck.
Not everything goes our way all the time. Here are some English phrases to express when things don’t work out.
This phrase is used to encourage someone after a small failure. It shows empathy but also suggests that they might succeed in the future.
Example:
If someone is experiencing a long period of difficulty or bad luck, we say they are “down on their luck.”
This sarcastic phrase is used when something unlucky happens, and you feel frustrated about it.
When something doesn’t go the way you hoped, you can say “No such luck.”
When you want to express sympathy for someone’s bad luck, you can use this phrase.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you want to show no sympathy for someone’s problems, you can say “Tough luck.” This is often used to express that you don’t care much about the situation.
Besides luck, we often use the word “luck” in phrases that talk about random events or chance.
This phrase is used to describe something that happens by chance. It can be applied to both lucky and unlucky situations.
Example of a lucky situation:
Example of an unlucky situation:
This phrase means that something is determined completely by chance, and you have no control over the outcome. It’s often used to describe situations like winning the lottery or drawing names randomly.
If you’ve already experienced good luck and you try to get more, but you risk losing everything, you’re “pushing your luck.”
Example:
Now that you’ve got a handle on the phrases, it’s time to put them into action! Use them in your everyday chats or when talking about scenarios related to luck or chance.
Additionally, don’t forget to check out the free course I’ve created for you. It’s available for free. Just click the SUBSCRIBE button on our Home Page.
Luck significantly influences our discussions about success and failure in English, but knowing the right phrases can help you communicate effectively in both good and bad situations. Whether you’re wishing someone well, empathizing with their troubles, or talking about randomness, these expressions will enhance your vocabulary.
Wishing you the best in your English studies, and remember—if things don’t go smoothly the first time, there’s always next time. Keep practicing, and I hope you find success in mastering these helpful phrases!
