Idioms are vibrant, expressive phrases that add a splash of color to our language, often carrying meanings that go beyond the literal words. They’re like little nuggets of wisdom, passed down through generations, that help us convey complex ideas or emotions with just a few words. When it comes to good luck, idioms are especially fun—they capture the hope, optimism, and serendipity we all wish for in life’s unpredictable moments. Whether you’re wishing someone well before a big exam, a job interview, or a new adventure, these good luck idioms can make your words sparkle with encouragement. In this blog post, we’ll explore 45 idioms about good luck, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversations. Plus, we’ve included a fun exercise to help you practice these phrases and sprinkle some luck into your vocabulary. So, let’s dive into the world of lucky expressions and see how they can bring a bit of fortune to your speech!
Idioms About Good Luck
1. Break a leg
Meaning: A theatrical way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
In a Sentence: As she stepped onto the stage for her first solo, her friends whispered, “Break a leg!” hoping she’d dazzle the audience with her performance.
Other Ways to Say: Good luck, Knock ‘em dead
2. Fingers crossed
Meaning: To wish for good luck, often accompanied by crossing one’s fingers.
In a Sentence: I’ve been preparing for this job interview all week, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and I land the position.
Other Ways to Say: Wish me luck, Hope for the best
3. Knock on wood
Meaning: To prevent bad luck by touching or knocking on something wooden.
In a Sentence: I haven’t missed a single day of school this year, knock on wood, and I’m hoping my streak continues through the semester.
Other Ways to Say: Touch wood, Keep the luck going
4. Luck of the draw
Meaning: Success or failure due to chance rather than effort.
In a Sentence: Getting the best seat in the concert was just the luck of the draw, as I didn’t choose my ticket number intentionally.
Other Ways to Say: Pure chance, Random luck
5. Down on your luck
Meaning: Experiencing a period of bad luck or misfortune.
In a Sentence: After losing his job and facing a string of setbacks, he was feeling down on his luck, but his friends rallied to support him.
Other Ways to Say: Going through a rough patch, Unlucky streak
6. Lady Luck
Meaning: A personification of luck, often implying fortune is on your side.
In a Sentence: When I won the raffle at the charity event, I couldn’t help but thank Lady Luck for smiling down on me that evening.
Other Ways to Say: Fortune’s favor, Lucky break
7. A stroke of luck
Meaning: An unexpected piece of good fortune.
In a Sentence: Finding that rare book in the thrift store for just a dollar was a stroke of luck that made my entire week unforgettable.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky break, Happy accident
8. The luck of the Irish
Meaning: Exceptional good fortune, often associated with Irish heritage.
In a Sentence: With the luck of the Irish on his side, he managed to win three games in a row at the annual family game night.
Other Ways to Say: Amazing luck, Fortunate streak
9. Born under a lucky star
Meaning: Naturally fortunate or destined for success.
In a Sentence: She always seems to land the best opportunities, as if she were born under a lucky star that guides her every step.
Other Ways to Say: Naturally lucky, Blessed with fortune
10. Catch a break
Meaning: To experience a moment of good luck after difficulties.
In a Sentence: After months of struggling to find work, he finally caught a break when a friend recommended him for a great job.
Other Ways to Say: Get lucky, Have a turn of fortune
11. In the nick of time
Meaning: Just at the right moment, often by luck.
In a Sentence: I finished my project in the nick of time, submitting it just seconds before the deadline, thanks to a lucky burst of focus.
Other Ways to Say: Just in time, At the last moment
12. Get away with murder
Meaning: To escape consequences for something bold or risky, often by luck.
In a Sentence: He forgot his lines but improvised so well that he got away with murder during the school play, earning applause.
Other Ways to Say: Dodge trouble, Escape scot-free
13. Golden opportunity
Meaning: A rare and valuable chance for success.
In a Sentence: Being offered a summer internship at my dream company felt like a golden opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect chance, Once-in-a-lifetime shot
14. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To achieve great success or luck, often unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: When I found a discounted laptop that was perfect for my needs, I felt like I had hit the jackpot at the electronics store.
Other Ways to Say: Struck it rich, Got lucky big time
15. On a roll
Meaning: Experiencing a streak of good luck or success.
In a Sentence: After acing three exams in a row, I was on a roll and felt unstoppable heading into the final week of school.
Other Ways to Say: On a winning streak, Doing great
16. Third time’s a charm
Meaning: Success comes after two failed attempts.
In a Sentence: I failed the driving test twice, but third time’s a charm, and I finally got my license with a perfect score.
Other Ways to Say: Keep trying, Persistence pays off
17. Wish upon a star
Meaning: To make a wish for good luck or success.
In a Sentence: Before the big game, I looked up at the night sky and wished upon a star, hoping our team would win the championship.
Other Ways to Say: Make a wish, Hope for luck
18. Roll the dice
Meaning: To take a chance and hope for a good outcome.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t sure about auditioning for the lead role, but I decided to roll the dice and give it my best shot.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Gamble on it
19. Have the Midas touch
Meaning: To be successful or lucky in everything you do.
In a Sentence: With her knack for picking winning stocks, everyone said she had the Midas touch when it came to investments.
Other Ways to Say: Always succeed, Golden touch
20. Luck out
Meaning: To experience unexpected good fortune.
In a Sentence: I lucked out when I found the last pair of concert tickets online just as I was about to give up searching.
Other Ways to Say: Get lucky, Score big
21. Serendipity
Meaning: Finding something valuable or lucky by happy accident.
In a Sentence: Meeting my best friend by chance at a coffee shop was pure serendipity that changed my life for the better.
Other Ways to Say: Happy coincidence, Lucky find
22. A rabbit’s foot
Meaning: A superstitious charm believed to bring good luck.
In a Sentence: He carried a rabbit’s foot in his pocket during the exam, hoping it would bring him the luck he needed to pass.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky charm, Good luck token
23. Four-leaf clover
Meaning: A rare symbol of good luck.
In a Sentence: Finding a four-leaf clover in the park felt like a sign that good things were coming my way this summer.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky symbol, Charm of fortune
24. Pot of gold
Meaning: A valuable or lucky reward, often at the end of a challenge.
In a Sentence: After months of hard work, landing the scholarship felt like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Other Ways to Say: Big reward, Lucky prize
25. Lucky break
Meaning: An unexpected piece of good fortune.
In a Sentence: Getting a call from the art gallery to showcase my work was the lucky break I had been waiting for all year.
Other Ways to Say: Stroke of luck, Fortunate chance
26. Born with a silver spoon
Meaning: To be born into wealth or fortunate circumstances.
In a Sentence: She was born with a silver spoon, always having the best opportunities handed to her without much effort.
Other Ways to Say: Born lucky, Privileged start
27. Stars align
Meaning: When circumstances come together perfectly, creating luck.
In a Sentence: Everything fell into place for the trip when the stars aligned, with cheap flights and perfect weather awaiting us.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect timing, Everything works out
28. Fortunate twist of fate
Meaning: A lucky change in circumstances.
In a Sentence: A fortunate twist of fate led me to meet my mentor when I attended the conference by chance.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky turn, Happy fate
29. Chance upon
Meaning: To find something valuable or lucky by accident.
In a Sentence: I chanced upon a rare vinyl record at the flea market, which turned out to be worth a small fortune.
Other Ways to Say: Stumble upon, Find by luck
30. Get a lucky streak
Meaning: To experience a series of fortunate events.
In a Sentence: After winning the raffle and getting a promotion, I was definitely on a lucky streak that week.
Other Ways to Say: String of luck, Run of good fortune
31. Good fortune smiles
Meaning: To experience luck or success.
In a Sentence: Good fortune smiled on me when I found my lost wallet with all the money still inside it.
Other Ways to Say: Luck is on my side, Fortune favors me
32. Make your own luck
Meaning: To create opportunities through effort that lead to fortunate outcomes.
In a Sentence: By working hard and networking, she made her own luck and landed a dream job in her field.
Other Ways to Say: Create opportunities, Shape your fortune
33. Fall into your lap
Meaning: To receive something lucky without effort.
In a Sentence: The chance to travel abroad just fell into my lap when my cousin offered me her spare ticket.
Other Ways to Say: Come easily, Land unexpectedly
34. Lucky devil
Meaning: A playful way to describe someone who is very lucky.
In a Sentence: You won the lottery again? You’re such a lucky devil, always getting the best prizes!
Other Ways to Say: Fortunate one, Lucky guy
35. The wheel of fortune
Meaning: The unpredictable nature of luck and fate.
In a Sentence: The wheel of fortune turned in my favor when I unexpectedly won a scholarship to my dream school.
Other Ways to Say: Twist of fate, Luck’s cycle
36. Blessed with luck
Meaning: To have a lot of good fortune.
In a Sentence: She was blessed with luck, always finding parking spots and getting great deals wherever she went.
Other Ways to Say: Naturally fortunate, Gifted with luck
37. A charmed life
Meaning: A life full of good luck and fortunate events.
In a Sentence: With a loving family, great friends, and a successful career, he seemed to live a charmed life.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky life, Blessed existence
38. Come up roses
Meaning: To turn out successfully or luckily.
In a Sentence: Despite all the challenges, the event came up roses, with everyone enjoying the perfect day.
Other Ways to Say: Turn out well, End happily
39. Happy-go-lucky
Meaning: A carefree attitude that attracts good fortune.
In a Sentence: His happy-go-lucky personality seemed to bring good luck wherever he went, charming everyone around him.
Other Ways to Say: Carefree and lucky, Easygoing fortune
40. Strike it lucky
Meaning: To achieve unexpected success or good fortune.
In a Sentence: I struck it lucky when I found a perfect apartment at a price I could actually afford.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the jackpot, Get fortunate
41. Get all the breaks
Meaning: To consistently experience good luck.
In a Sentence: She always gets all the breaks, from winning contests to landing internships without much effort.
Other Ways to Say: Always lucky, Fortunate streak
42. Have luck on your side
Meaning: To experience favorable circumstances.
In a Sentence: With luck on his side, he managed to finish the race despite the rain and a sprained ankle.
Other Ways to Say: Be fortunate, Have good luck
43. Lucky star shines
Meaning: To be guided or blessed by good fortune.
In a Sentence: My lucky star was shining when I got accepted into the program I had been dreaming about for years.
Other Ways to Say: Fortune shines, Luck guides
44. Turn up trumps
Meaning: To succeed or have good luck unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: The risky decision to invest in the startup turned up trumps when the company became a huge success.
Other Ways to Say: Work out well, Succeed luckily
45. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: To succeed or escape narrowly, often by luck.
In a Sentence: I passed the final exam by the skin of my teeth, thanks to a lucky guess on the last question.
Other Ways to Say: Barely make it, Just scrape by
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- Before the big presentation, my friend told me to _______ a leg to wish me the best performance possible.
- I’m keeping my _______ crossed that I get into my top-choice college after all my hard work.
- I’ve had no car trouble this year, _______ on wood, and I hope it stays that way for a long time.
- Winning the scholarship was a _______ of luck that changed my plans for the future completely.
- After forgetting my lines, I improvised and _______ away with murder during the school play.
- The opportunity to study abroad was a _______ opportunity I couldn’t let pass by without trying.
- After acing all my exams, I was definitely _______ a roll and felt like nothing could stop me.
- I made a wish and _______ upon a star, hoping my team would win the championship game.
- Finding that rare book was pure _______, as I hadn’t even been looking for it that day.
- Carrying a _______ foot in my bag made me feel like I had an extra boost of luck for the test.
- After months of hard work, landing the job felt like finding a _______ of gold at the end of a rainbow.
- With a _______ twist of fate, I met my favorite author at a random bookstore event.
- Everything _______ up roses when the party went off without a hitch despite the rain.
Answers:
break, fingers, knock, stroke, got, golden, on, wished, serendipity, rabbit’s, pot, fortunate, came
Conclusion
Good luck idioms are a delightful way to add flair and optimism to your conversations. They capture the magic of fortunate moments and remind us that sometimes, a little luck can go a long way. By incorporating these phrases into your daily speech, you can inspire others, share positivity, and make your language more engaging. Practice using these idioms at school, with friends, or even in your writing to bring a touch of charm and fortune to every interaction. Keep exploring the world of idioms, and who knows—maybe luck will smile on you as you master these expressive phrases!