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the stars are aligned

the stars are aligned

2 7.5
The situation is very good for something to happen
  • idiom
: 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
25 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
12 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
12 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
10 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
1 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
2 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.