devil's luck
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəlz lʌk/
- Informal
:
suerte del diablo
- Winning the lottery was pure devil's luck!
Examples
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Somehow, by devil's luck, the team managed to score in the final seconds.
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With sheer devil's luck, she missed the storm by just a few minutes.
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He always seems to have devil's luck when it comes to risky investments.
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She had such devil's luck during the game.
-
He always seems to have devil's luck when it comes to risky investments.
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With sheer devil's luck, she missed the storm by just a few minutes.
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Somehow, by devil's luck, the team managed to score in the final seconds.
Synonyms
547
1.0
A fortunate event that happens by chance
66
2.5
A lucky event or success that happens by chance
35
5.1
A large amount of money that you get unexpectedly
32
5.1
An unexpected good event that happens by chance
28
4.9
Something very helpful that you did not expect when you needed it
15
7.9
A happy chance event that brings good results
13
3.2
A sudden chance that helps you succeed
8
3.9
Good luck that happens by chance, not because you worked for it
8
3.2
A sudden lucky event that brings good results
1
4.2
An unexpected good thing that feels like it comes from above
1
9.5
An extra helpful thing you get, often at work
An unexpected good thing that happens by chance
A lucky unexpected event that brings something good
Antonyms
How Lucky
Surface Forms
Morphology
devil's + luck
While 'luck' is transparent, the modifier 'devil's' introduces a figurative, culturally loaded nuance (devil typically signals malice or extreme agency) that does not straightforwardly yield the sense 'unexpectedly good or undeserved fortune.' A B1 learner who knows the constituents could guess it's a special kind of luck but would likely be uncertain about the positive/undeserved meaning, so the expression is partially but not fully predictable.
Etymology
Devil's luck may come from old stories where the devil suddenly helps someone escape danger or gives them a strange windfall, so the luck feels risky or unfair. That's why Devil's luck now means 'unexpectedly good fortune', especially when it seems 'undeserved'.