LUCK

[noun] [U] - the force that causes things, esp. good things, to happen to you by chance and not as a result of your own efforts or abilitiesIt was just (a matter of) luck that she got that job.He had the luck to be (= By chance he was) in the right place at the right time.We thought we'd miss the train, but luck was on our side/with us (= by chance something good happened), and we just made it.I couldn't believe my luck (= what a good thing had happened by chance) when I found my lost wallet.It was a stroke of luck (= something good that happened by chance) that we found exactly the house we were looking for. [+ that clause]She wears a charm that she thinks brings her (good) luck (= makes good things happen).I hear your dad bought you a new car - some people have all the luck (= good things happen to them by chance all the time).I didn't have much luck (= success) trying to find a birthday present for Sam.Any luck with (= Have you been successful in) booking your flight?He tried to get into teacher training college but with no luck (= no success).We all wished Lisa (good/the best of) luck in/with her exams.The team have had bad luck (= bad things have happened to them) throughout this series.You say bad/hard/tough/rotten luck to express sympathy with someone when something unlucky has happened to them."I broke my leg on the first day of my skiing holiday." "Oh, (what) rotten luck!"Some people believe it's bad luck to (= bad things will happen to you if you) walk under a ladder.We ran out of petrol on the way home, but as luck would have it (= by chance), we weren't far from a garage.(esp. UK) It was bad luck on Alex that his bike was stolen.He's been a bit down on his luck recently (= Bad things, esp. having no money, have been happening to him).We have a horseshoe hanging on our wall for (good) luck (= so that good things will happen to us by chance).I'll have two spoonsful of sugar, and one for luck (= to bring good luck)."Do you have any bananas today?" "You're in luck/out of luck (= What you want is available/not available)."(UK) My luck was in (= something good happened to me by chance) last night - I won every game in the darts match.Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw (= just chance) whether you get picked for the team or not."You did amazingly well to get the ball in." "Oh, it was more by luck than judgment (= It was by chance and not because of my skill)."(informal) "Can you get a day off work to come to the beach?" "No such luck (= It is disappointing but I will not be able to)."(informal) I was rather hoping it would rain today and I wouldn't have to go on the walk but no such luck (= it is disappointing that I did not get what I wanted). (informal) With (any/a bit of) luck (= I hope that) we should get to Newcastle by early evening.