The everyday language feels more hopeful when we use idioms about good luck to describe those lucky breaks and fortunate moments. These phrases bring charm and color—like catching a lucky break, finding a four-leaf clover, or having the stars align.
They turn simple situations into something magical and easy to picture. With rhythm and cheerful imagery, these idioms help us talk about luck in a way that feels real and uplifting.
Best Idioms About Good Luck
1. Break a leg
Meaning: A theatrical way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
In a Sentence:
You’ll be amazing tonight—break a leg!
Before she went on stage, I told her to break a leg.
Other Ways to Say: Knock them dead, Blow them away, Best of luck
2. Fingers crossed
Meaning: Hoping for the best outcome; often said or done to wish someone good luck.
In a Sentence:
Fingers crossed that the weather holds up for the wedding.
We’ve applied—now fingers crossed we get the grant.
Other Ways to Say: Keep your fingers crossed, Here’s hoping, Hoping for the best
3. Good luck
Meaning: A general, warm wish for success in whatever someone is about to do.
In a Sentence:
Good luck with your exam—you’ve got this!
He wished me good luck before my big interview.
Other Ways to Say: Best of luck, All the best, Go get ’em
4. Best of luck
Meaning: A sincere and heartfelt way to wish someone success.
In a Sentence:
Best of luck with your new job.
We’re rooting for you—best of luck!
Other Ways to Say: Good luck, Wishing you all the best, All the best
5. Wishing you all the best
Meaning: A friendly, thoughtful way to offer someone both luck and encouragement.
In a Sentence:
Wishing you all the best in your new chapter.
She sent me a message saying, “Wishing you all the best!”
Other Ways to Say: Best wishes, Take care, May everything go well
6. You got this
Meaning: A confident way to tell someone they’re capable of succeeding.
In a Sentence:
Don’t worry—you got this!
You’ve trained hard for this—you got this.
Other Ways to Say: You’ll do great, Believe in yourself, and Go smash it
7. You’ll do great
Meaning: Encouraging someone with confidence that they’ll perform well.
In a Sentence:
You’ve practiced enough—you’ll do great.
It’s normal to be nervous, but you’ll do great!
Other Ways to Say: You got this, You’ll nail it, You’re ready
8. Best wishes
Meaning: A polite and kind expression of good luck and happiness, often formal.
In a Sentence:
Best wishes for your future endeavors.
They sent a card with “Best wishes on your journey.”
Other Ways to Say: Warm regards, All the best, Kind wishes
9. Knock them dead
Meaning: A spirited way to wish someone a strong, impressive performance.
In a Sentence:
It’s your big night—go knock them dead!
He said, “Knock them dead!” before I stepped on stage.
Other Ways to Say: Break a leg, Blow them away, Crush it
10. Blow them away
Meaning: To impress others greatly; often used to wish success with flair.
In a Sentence:
You’re going to blow them away with that presentation.
With that talent, you’ll blow them away!
Other Ways to Say: Wow them, Leave a mark, Make a big impact
11. A stroke of luck
Meaning: A sudden and unexpected moment of good fortune.
In a Sentence:
Finding that old lottery ticket was a real stroke of luck.
He got the job through a stroke of luck—someone quit last minute.
Other Ways to Say: Lucky break, Serendipity, Happy accident
12. As luck would have it
Meaning: Used to describe a fortunate or unfortunate coincidence.
In a Sentence:
As luck would have it, the train arrived just as I got there.
As luck would have it, she ran into an old friend at the airport.
Other Ways to Say: Coincidentally lucky, By chance, Happened perfectly
13. Luck out
Meaning: To get something unexpectedly good, especially in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence:
He really lucked out with those front-row tickets.
We lucked out and got the last room at the resort.
Other Ways to Say: Get lucky, Catch a break, Fortune smiled on us
14. Beginner’s luck
Meaning: Unexpected success by someone doing something for the first time.
In a Sentence:
She beat everyone in her first poker game—beginner’s luck!
Don’t get too confident, it might just be beginner’s luck.
Other Ways to Say: First-time fortune, Lucky start, Surprising win
15. Strike it lucky
Meaning: To suddenly find great luck, often when not expecting it.
In a Sentence:
They struck it lucky with a cheap beachfront house.
You never know—you might strike it lucky at the flea market.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the jackpot, Stumble upon fortune, Get a windfall
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Excitement to Energize Your Speech
16. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To have great success or win something very valuable.
In a Sentence:
He hit the jackpot with that investment.
Landing this job feels like hitting the jackpot.
Other Ways to Say: Win big, Get super lucky, Strike gold
17. Land on your feet
Meaning: To come through a difficult situation with good results.
In a Sentence:
Even after the layoff, she landed on her feet with a better role.
He always seems to land on his feet, no matter what happens.
Other Ways to Say: Bounce back, Recover with luck, Turn things around
18. Born under a lucky star
Meaning: Describes someone who seems to always have good fortune.
In a Sentence:
She gets through life so easily—she must have been born under a lucky star.
He wins everything! That guy was born under a lucky star.
Other Ways to Say: Naturally lucky, Blessed, Fortune’s favorite
19. Get a lucky break
Meaning: To receive a sudden opportunity that changes your situation for the better.
In a Sentence:
That interview was his lucky break into the film industry.
After years of struggle, she finally got a lucky break.
Other Ways to Say: Big chance, Right moment, Golden opportunity
20. Have the Midas touch
Meaning: Everything someone does turns out successful or profitable.
In a Sentence:
Whatever he touches turns to gold—he’s got the Midas touch.
She’s got the Midas touch in business.
Other Ways to Say: Everything succeeds, Turn things into gold, Gifted with fortune
21. The luck of the draw
Meaning: The outcome depends purely on chance, like drawing a random card.
In a Sentence:
Who gets the better hotel room? It’s just the luck of the draw.
We ended up with a great table—pure luck of the draw.
Other Ways to Say: Random chance, Pure luck, No control over it
22. Pot luck
Meaning: Accepting what comes without knowing what to expect, often in a shared or casual setting.
In a Sentence:
Dinner’s pot luck—everyone’s bringing whatever they want.
We took pot luck with the Airbnb and got a gem.
Other Ways to Say: Whatever happens, Mixed results, Roll the dice
23. Anyone’s call
Meaning: The outcome is too uncertain to predict; could go either way.
In a Sentence:
With both teams playing well, it’s anyone’s call.
This election is anyone’s call at this point.
Other Ways to Say: Too close to call, Totally uncertain, Up in the air
24. Roll the dice
Meaning: To take a risk where the outcome is completely unknown.
In a Sentence:
He rolled the dice and moved to a new city with no job.
Starting your own business is always rolling the dice.
Other Ways to Say: Take a gamble, Chance it, Risk everything
25. Lady Luck
Meaning: A personified symbol of chance and fortune, as if luck were a woman choosing winners.
In a Sentence:
Lady Luck was on his side in the casino last night.
Sometimes you need Lady Luck to show up when it matters.
Other Ways to Say: Fate’s favor, Fortune’s blessing, Lucky charm
26. Draw a lucky card
Meaning: To receive or experience something fortunate through chance.
In a Sentence:
She really drew a lucky card with that scholarship.
They drew a lucky card by arriving just before it sold out.
Other Ways to Say: Get lucky, Receive a gift from fate, Unexpected fortune
27. The roll of the dice
Meaning: An action or decision where the outcome depends solely on luck.
In a Sentence:
Starting the business was a roll of the dice, but it paid off.
It’s just a roll of the dice whether the weather holds.
Other Ways to Say: Random result, Pure chance, No guarantees
28. Luck of the Irish
Meaning: Exceptional good fortune, often used playfully or tied to Irish heritage.
In a Sentence:
He found a $100 bill on the ground—must be the luck of the Irish!
Winning twice in a row? That’s the luck of the Irish.
Other Ways to Say: Wild luck, Playful fortune, Irish charm
29. Toss of a coin
Meaning: Making a decision or facing a result based purely on chance, like flipping a coin.
In a Sentence:
It came down to a toss of a coin—heads or tails.
Let’s decide who drives with a toss of a coin.
Other Ways to Say: Flip a coin, Random pick, Fifty-fifty
30. Chance your arm
Meaning: To take a bold risk, hoping for success without guarantee.
In a Sentence:
He chanced his arm and asked for a raise.
She chanced her arm by submitting her first book to a publisher.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Be bold, Risk it
31. A streak of bad luck
Meaning: A series of unfortunate or unlucky events happening one after another.
In a Sentence:
He’s had a streak of bad luck—first the job loss, then the accident.
Sometimes life just hits you with a streak of bad luck.
Other Ways to Say: Bad run, Series of misfortune, Rough patch
32. Push your luck
Meaning: To risk losing your current good fortune by taking it too far.
In a Sentence:
You’ve won twice—don’t push your luck.
He kept asking for more and finally pushed his luck too far.
Other Ways to Say: Tempt fate, Take it too far, Go overboard
33. No such luck
Meaning: Used to express disappointment when something hopeful didn’t happen.
In a Sentence:
I hoped they’d cancel the meeting—but no such luck.
He looked for tickets at the last minute—no such luck.
Other Ways to Say: Didn’t work out, Unlucky me, Not this time
34. Better luck next time
Meaning: A kind and hopeful way to encourage someone after failure.
In a Sentence:
She didn’t win the contest—better luck next time.
You tried your best—better luck next time!
Other Ways to Say: Try again soon, Don’t give up, Keep at it
35. That ship has sailed
Meaning: The opportunity is gone; it’s too late now.
In a Sentence:
I was going to apply, but that ship has sailed.
He hoped to make amends, but the ship had sailed.
Other Ways to Say: Missed your chance, Too late now, Window closed
Related Post: 50 Idioms About Life That Say It All
36. Down on your luck
Meaning: Going through a difficult time, especially financially or emotionally.
In a Sentence:
She’s been down on her luck since the business closed.
He’s down on his luck and could use some support.
Other Ways to Say: In a rough spot, Struggling, Hard times
37. Out of luck
Meaning: Unable to succeed or continue because of lack of good fortune.
In a Sentence:
They were out of luck—the store had sold out.
Forgot your umbrella? Out of luck, it’s pouring.
Other Ways to Say: No chance, Missed out, Unfortunate
38. Tempt fate
Meaning: To take unnecessary risks that might lead to bad outcomes.
In a Sentence:
Don’t skip the insurance—you’re tempting fate.
Driving in that storm really tempted fate.
Other Ways to Say: Risk bad luck, Push too far, Invite disaster
39. Bad break
Meaning: A specific unlucky incident that disrupts plans or hopes.
In a Sentence:
He had a bad break when the deal fell through.
Getting sick right before the finals was a bad break.
Other Ways to Say: Unfortunate turn, Bad timing, Misfortune
40. Miss your chance
Meaning: To lose a valuable opportunity due to delay or inaction.
In a Sentence:
He hesitated too long and missed his chance.
Don’t miss your chance—this offer won’t last.
Other Ways to Say: Let it slip away, Too late, Opportunity gone
41. Knock on wood
Meaning: A gesture or phrase to avoid bad luck after mentioning something positive.
In a Sentence:
I haven’t been sick all year—knock on wood.
Everything’s going great—knock on wood it stays that way.
Other Ways to Say: Fingers crossed, Hope it lasts, Let’s keep it that way
42. Wish upon a star
Meaning: To hope deeply for something good or magical to happen.
In a Sentence:
She still believes that if you wish upon a star, dreams come true.
He looked up, made a wish upon a star, and hoped for peace.
Other Ways to Say: Dream big, Hope for magic, Silent prayer
43. All the best
Meaning: A warm and simple wish for success and happiness.
In a Sentence:
Wishing you all the best in your new journey.
Thanks for everything—goodbye and all the best!
Other Ways to Say: Best wishes, Good luck, Wishing you well
44. Keep your fingers crossed
Meaning: To hope intensely that something good will happen.
In a Sentence:
Keep your fingers crossed—we’ll hear the results soon.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good news!
Other Ways to Say: Fingers crossed, Hoping hard, Let’s see
45. Fortune favors the bold
Meaning: People who take courageous actions are more likely to be rewarded by luck.
In a Sentence:
She launched her business in a recession—fortune favors the bold.
Don’t play it safe—fortune favors the bold.
Other Ways to Say: Take risks, Be brave, Go big
46. Third time’s a charm
Meaning: After failing twice, the third attempt will likely succeed.
In a Sentence:
He failed twice, but the third time’s a charm—he nailed it.
I’ll try one more time. Who knows? The third time’s a charm!
Other Ways to Say: Keep trying, Lucky on the third, Don’t give up yet
47. Have luck on your side
Meaning: To be in a favorable situation where fortune is helping you.
In a Sentence:
She had luck on her side when she met the producer by chance.
With luck on your side, anything is possible.
Other Ways to Say: Things are aligned, Good fortune helps, On a lucky streak
48. Catch a break
Meaning: To finally receive some good luck after hardship.
In a Sentence:
He’s been struggling for years—I hope he catches a break soon.
They finally caught a break with that job offer.
Other Ways to Say: Turn of fortune, Well-deserved luck, Get some relief
49. Golden opportunity
Meaning: A rare, valuable chance that should not be missed.
In a Sentence:
This scholarship is a golden opportunity—go for it.
She knew the internship was her golden opportunity.
Other Ways to Say: Rare chance, Big break, Perfect timing
50. Make your own luck
Meaning: Create success through effort, preparation, and mindset—not just chance.
In a Sentence:
He works hard and makes his own luck.
Don’t wait—go make your own luck!
Other Ways to Say: Create your chances, Be proactive, Success through effort
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About Good Luck
- You’ve got an audition today? Go knock them __________!
- I didn’t study for the quiz, but I still passed with flying colors. Must have been __________.
- We’ll hear the results tomorrow, so let’s keep our __________ crossed.
- He really hit the __________ with that new business idea—it’s earning millions!
- She missed the application deadline. Sadly, that __________ has sailed.
- I didn’t expect to win, but as __________ would have it, I did!
- They say the __________ favors the bold, so I’m going to take the leap.
- He kept pushing his luck and eventually ended up completely __________ of luck.
- This job offer is a real __________ opportunity—I can’t let it slip away.
- I’ve failed twice, but I’m not giving up. They say the third time’s a __________!
Answer
- dead
- beginner’s luck
- fingers
- jackpot
- ship
- luck
- fortune
- out
- golden
- charm
Conclusion
The way we talk about chance becomes more playful and positive when we use idioms about good luck. They help us share hope, surprises, and little victories with words that sparkle and stick.
Whether you’re wishing someone well or telling your own story, these idioms add charm and meaning. Keep using them, and you’ll bring a bit of luck and light into every conversation.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
