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Luck Idioms
English blogVocabulary

12 Luck Idioms

2 min read

Luck Idioms and What They Mean

Luck idioms help us talk about chance, success, and failure. These expressions describe how lucky or unlucky things happen in life. Here are 12 common luck idioms, what they mean, and how to use them.

Hit the jackpot

To have great luck or win something big.

She hit the jackpot with that new job.
He hit the jackpot at the casino.

Beginner’s luck

Success when you try something new for the first time.

She won the game with beginner’s luck.
I think it was just beginner’s luck that I scored a goal.

Luck of the draw

Something that happens by chance, not by choice.

I got the worst seat—just the luck of the draw.
It’s the luck of the draw who you sit next to.

Strike it rich

To suddenly become rich or successful.

He struck it rich when his app became popular.
They struck it rich by investing early.

On a roll

Having a streak of good luck or success.

She’s on a roll—three wins in a row!
I’m on a roll today—everything is going well.

Strike it lucky

To have good luck suddenly.

I struck it lucky and found the last ticket.
He struck it lucky with that parking spot.

Push your luck

To try for too much and risk losing everything.

Don’t push your luck—you’ve already won once.
She was lucky before, but now she’s pushing her luck.

Down on your luck

Having bad luck, often for a long time.

He’s down on his luck and can’t find a job.
She was down on her luck after the business failed.

Touch wood / Knock on wood

Said to avoid bad luck after mentioning something good.

I’ve never been sick—touch wood.
We’ve had no problems so far, knock on wood.

Pot luck

A meal where everyone brings something, or something chosen by chance.

We’re having a pot luck dinner—bring anything!
I didn’t pick the movie—it was pot luck.

As luck would have it

Something that happened by chance (usually lucky).

As luck would have it, we found a taxi right away.
I forgot my umbrella, and as luck would have it, it didn’t rain.

Better luck next time

Said when someone fails, to encourage them.

You didn’t win, but better luck next time!
Better luck next time—you’ll do better soon.

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