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to luck

to luck

30 6.6
To get something by chance rather than by planning or effort
  • verb
  • /lʌk/
translation icon : tener la suerte de
  • If we luck out, we'll get a shot at seeing the man supposed to be responsible tonight.

to luck upon an open house in today's environment.

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Examples

Synonyms

to hit the jackpot
vsto luck
24 4.0

To have a big, unexpected success because of luck

is the broader idea of success coming unexpectedly rather than from effort
to luck out
vsto luck
  • Informal
22 8.0

To do well by chance

describes success that comes without planning rather than through effort
to chance on
vsto luck
18 6.1

To find something or someone by accident while doing something else

applies more widely to achieving or getting results unexpectedly rather than by effort
to chance
vsto luck
10 3.9

To find something by accident

emphasises obtaining or happening by accident rather than by effort
to fluke
vsto luck
  • Informal
1 6.5

To succeed by chance rather than by skill

is the general idea of getting results unexpectedly rather than by effort
to luck through
vsto luck
  • UK
8.6

To succeed by chance without skill or planning

means success that happens by accident rather than by sustained effort
to strike it lucky
vsto luck
  • UK
5.7

To get unexpected good luck

focuses on sudden unexpected success rather than deliberate achievement

Idioms

out of luck
  • Informal
43 4.1

Not successful when you try to get something you want

with any luck
  • Informal
37 3.5

If everything goes well

36 1.6

Having something good happen by chance

12 3.5

To do something in the hope that it will bring success

Having bad luck, often with money

7 5.4

Happens by chance in a lucky, helpful way

luck of the draw
  • Informal
3 4.8

A result that depends only on chance, like drawing names from a hat

tough luck
  • Informal
3 4.9

A short comment that says whether you feel sorry for someone's bad luck

shit out of luck
  • Offensive
1 9.9

In a situation with no choice and no help to fix a problem

1 4.1

A friendly phrase that wishes someone more success next time

7.2

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

6.8

To risk losing success by asking for more than is wise

7.4

To rely on good luck instead of working for success

Phrasal Verbs

to luck out
  • Informal
22 8.0

To do well by chance

To trust that chance affects what happens

Touch something to try to get good luck

9.9

To try something without planning or skill and hope that luck helps

To succeed by chance without skill or planning

To succeed in life because of luck, not effort

to ride luck
  • Informal
7.3

To take a risk and hope things go well

Compounds

547 1.0

A fortunate event that happens by chance

166 1.0

Unlucky events that happen by chance

A small thing people keep because they believe it brings good luck

dumb luck
  • Informal
8 3.9

Good luck that happens by chance, not because you worked for it

A sudden lucky event that brings good results

A person whose presence people believe brings good luck to a team or group

1 3.8

Bad things that happen to someone by chance

devil's luck
  • Informal
7.5

Very good luck that happens by chance and seems undeserved

An unexpected good thing that happens by chance

How Lucky

to luck
30 6.6
to stumble
171 2.8

Surface Forms

luck infinitive
lucked past
lucked past participle
lucking present participle
lucks third person singular

Etymology

Luck as a verb grew from the noun when people said someone lucked into something after getting it by chance. So to luck into or to luck something means to achieve or get it through chance or good fortune rather than by effort.