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the stars are aligned

the stars are aligned

1 7.5
The situation is very good for something to happen
  • idiom
translation icon : las estrellas están alineadas
  • With the market booming and investors lining up, the stars are aligned for our company's expansion.

Examples

  • It felt like the stars are aligned when she found her dream job just after graduating.

  • Whenever the stars are aligned, everything seems to go smoothly and effortlessly.

  • It seems that the stars are aligned for her success!

  • When I got the promotion, I felt like the stars were aligned.

  • Finally, the stars are aligned for her to get the promotion she has worked hard for.

  • When he received the job offer and got a call from his friend, it felt like the stars were aligned.

  • With the perfect weather on the day of the event, it seemed that the stars were aligned for a successful festival.

Synonyms

right place at the right time
vsthe stars are aligned
  • Informal
18 3.9

Being where luck gives you the best chance to do well

describes favorable conditions coming together rather than a specific position
as luck would have it
vsthe stars are aligned
  • Informal
7 5.4

Happens by chance in a lucky, helpful way

states favorable conditions are present rather than simply noting chance occurrence
odds are good
vsthe stars are aligned
  • Informal
2 3.7

There is a good chance it will happen

emphasizes circumstances lining up for success rather than just high probability
to the stars align
vsthe stars are aligned
1 6.8

Different things happen at the right time so something lucky happens

uses a passive or completed form rather than simple present phrasing
under a lucky star
vsthe stars are aligned
1 7.1

Someone who often has good things happen by chance

focuses on particular favorable circumstances for an event rather than lasting fortune
as luck may have it
vsthe stars are aligned
  • Informal
7.2

By chance something happens, often in a good or bad way

describes favorable circumstances rather than a general comment about luck

How Favorable

the stars are aligned
1 7.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

the + star + be + aligned

The image of celestial bodies 'stars' being 'aligned' gives a clear metaphorical clue that conditions are arranged or coordinated, so the literal parts point toward a related idea. However, the conventionalized idiomatic meaning 'circumstances are especially favorable' relies on cultural/astrological knowledge and is not fully predictable from the words alone, so a B1 learner might guess the general idea but not reliably the precise idiomatic sense.

Etymology

The stars are aligned comes from watching the night sky: when stars or planets are aligned, people long ago thought it was a rare, lucky moment. That's why today we say it when 'circumstances are especially favorable' for something to happen.