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Glite Dictionary
to fall into one's lap

to fall into one's lap

4 6.4
To get something good without trying or expecting it
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : caer en el regazo
  • She was surprised when a fantastic job opportunity just fell into her lap.
  • it just fell into my lap

Examples

  • And opportunities like that don't fall into my lap too often.

    The Debt Collector (2018)

  • He couldn't believe his luck when a rare collectible fell into his lap at the auction.

  • Something really, really great fell into my lap.

    Iron Man 2 (2010)

  • l mean, it's not as if the money fell into my lap.

    Quiz Show (1994)

  • We're running out of time because something just fell into my lap this evening that could benefit the both of us.

    Mandao Returns (2020)

  • Sometimes stories fall into your lap.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Sometimes information just falls into your lap.

    Blog text (15)

  • An interesting case has lately fallen into my lap.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I'm gonna give you this sweet gig that fell into my lap.

    The Debt Collector (2018)

  • Well, that was true, so when an opportunity to work at one of the merchant booths fell into my lap, I accepted.

    Blog text (27)

Synonyms

to fall into someone's lap
vsto fall into one's lap
  • Informal
1 6.5

To get something good without effort or planning

is obtained without effort and stresses value rather than luck
to land in someone's lap
vsto fall into one's lap
  • Informal
6.6

To get something valuable by surprise without any effort

focuses on desirable valuable gains rather than duties or tasks

Antonyms

to work at
489 2.3

To try hard to get better at or finish something over time

to strive
156 3.7

To work very hard to reach a goal

How Effortless

to fall into one's lap
  • Informal
4 6.4
to receive
∞ 1.0
to earn
947 1.0

Surface Forms

fall into one's lap infinitive
falling into one's lap present participle
falls into one's lap third person singular
fell into one's lap past
fallen into one's lap past participle

Morphology

fall + into + one's + lap

The meaning ('to receive something unexpectedly without effort') is a metaphorical extension of the literal image of something physically falling into a person's lap, so a learner who knows 'fall', 'into' and 'lap' can plausibly infer the general idea. However, the idiomatic sense relies on a figurative mapping (arrival/benefit rather than physical motion) and is not fully predictable from ordinary compositional rules, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

The idiom fall into one's lap comes from the simple image of something lucky or useful actually falling into your lap while you sit, like a gift landing on your legs by chance. That's why it means 'to receive something valuable without effort'.