Definition of luck

lucknoun

may mắn, vận may

/lʌk/

Definition of undefined

The word "luck" has a fascinating history! The term originated from the Old English word "luc" or "lic", which means "chance" or "fate". This word is also related to the Germanic word "luk-", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*lukiz", meaning "to happen" or "to occur". In Middle English (circa 1100-1500 AD), the word "luck" emerged, initially meaning "assistance" or "good fortune". It was often used in phrases such as "good luck" or "bad luck", implying that one's fortunes were influenced by external forces. Over time, the word "luck" has evolved to encompass a broader sense of fate, destiny, or even superstition. Today, we use it to describe both favorable and unfavorable events, often attributing them to chance, chance encounters, or even a dash of magic!

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good things that happen to you by chance, not because of your own efforts or abilities

những điều tốt đẹp xảy đến với bạn một cách tình cờ chứ không phải do nỗ lực hay khả năng của bản thân

Example:
  • With any luck, we'll be home before dark.

    Nếu may mắn, chúng ta sẽ về nhà trước khi trời tối.

  • With a bit of luck, we'll finish on time.

    Với một chút may mắn, chúng ta sẽ hoàn thành đúng thời hạn.

  • So far I have had no luck with finding a job.

    Cho đến nay tôi vẫn chưa gặp may mắn trong việc tìm việc làm.

  • I'm not having much luck with buses.

    Tôi không gặp nhiều may mắn với xe buýt.

  • I never had much luck (= had a successful relationship) with women.

    Tôi chưa bao giờ gặp nhiều may mắn (= có mối quan hệ thành công) với phụ nữ.

  • I could hardly believe my luck when he said yes.

    Tôi khó có thể tin vào vận may của mình khi anh ấy nói đồng ý.

  • It was a stroke of luck that we found you.

    Thật may mắn khi chúng tôi tìm thấy bạn.

  • By sheer luck nobody was hurt in the explosion.

    May mắn thay không ai bị thương trong vụ nổ.

  • The only goal of the match came more by luck than judgement.

    Bàn thắng duy nhất của trận đấu đến do may mắn hơn là do phán đoán.

  • We wish her luck in her new career.

    Chúng tôi chúc cô ấy may mắn trong sự nghiệp mới.

  • She wears a red bracelet to bring her luck.

    Cô đeo một chiếc vòng tay màu đỏ để mang lại may mắn.

  • You're in luck (= lucky)—there's one ticket left.

    Bạn thật may mắn (= may mắn)—còn một vé.

  • You're out of luck. She's not here.

    Bạn thật không may mắn. Cô ấy không ở đây.

  • What a piece of luck!

    Thật là một điều may mắn!

  • Finally my luck ran out and they caught me trying to climb the outer wall.

    Cuối cùng, vận may của tôi đã hết và họ bắt gặp tôi đang cố trèo lên bức tường bên ngoài.

Extra examples:
  • I haven't had much luck recently.

    Gần đây tôi không gặp nhiều may mắn.

  • I thought I was going to miss the train but luck was on my side.

    Tôi tưởng mình sẽ lỡ chuyến tàu nhưng may mắn đã đứng về phía tôi.

  • If our luck holds, we should win.

    Nếu may mắn nắm giữ, chúng ta sẽ giành chiến thắng.

  • You make your own luck in business.

    Bạn tự tạo ra may mắn trong kinh doanh.

Related words and phrases

chance; the force that causes good or bad things to happen to people

cơ hội; lực gây ra những điều tốt hay xấu xảy ra với con người

Example:
  • to have good/bad luck

    gặp may mắn/ xui xẻo

  • I put the loss of the money down to pure bad luck.

    Tôi cho rằng việc mất tiền là do vận rủi thuần túy.

  • We had horrible luck with the weather.

    Chúng tôi đã gặp may mắn khủng khiếp với thời tiết.

  • In many cultures the colour blue is believed to bring good luck.

    Trong nhiều nền văn hóa, màu xanh được cho là mang lại may mắn.

  • myths based on the idea that owls bring bad luck

    huyền thoại dựa trên ý tưởng rằng con cú mang lại xui xẻo

  • She dared not trust to luck that nobody would see her.

    Cô không dám tin vào may mắn rằng sẽ không có ai nhìn thấy cô.

Extra examples:
  • By ill luck, my flight had been cancelled.

    Thật không may, chuyến bay của tôi đã bị hủy.

  • He went on gambling, sure his luck was about to change.

    Anh ta tiếp tục đánh bạc, chắc chắn vận may của mình sắp thay đổi.

  • I decided to try my luck at the roulette wheel.

    Tôi quyết định thử vận ​​may của mình ở trò roulette.

  • It was rotten luck to be ill on the day of the interview.

    Thật là may mắn khi bị ốm vào ngày phỏng vấn.

  • More bad luck struck last week.

    Thêm nhiều điều xui xẻo đã xảy ra vào tuần trước.

  • This ring has always brought me good luck.

    Chiếc nhẫn này luôn mang lại may mắn cho tôi.

  • My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.

    Ông bà tôi di cư sang Canada để thử vận ​​may ở đó.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

any luck?
(informal)used to ask somebody if they have been successful with something
  • ‘Any luck?’ ‘No, they're all too busy to help.’
  • as luck would have it
    in the way that chance decides what will happen
  • As luck would have it, the train was late.
  • bad, hard, etc. luck (on somebody)
    used to express sympathy for somebody
  • Bad luck, Helen, you played very well.
  • It's hard luck on him that he wasn't chosen.
  • What rotten luck it had to happen now!
  • be down on your luck
    (informal)to have no money because of a period of bad luck
  • In the movie they play two jazz musicians who are down on their luck.
  • the best of luck (with something) | good luck (with something)
    (informal)used to wish somebody success with something
  • The best of luck with your exams.
  • Good luck! I hope it goes well.
  • ‘I'm going to try giving up social media for a year.’ ‘Good luck with that (= I don't think you will succeed).’
  • better luck next time
    (informal)used to encourage somebody who has not been successful at something
  • Never mind— better luck next time.
  • If you didn't win a prize, better luck next time.
  • for luck
    because you believe it will bring you good luck, or because this is a traditional belief
  • Take something blue. It's for luck.
  • I always carry it with me, just for luck.
  • (informal)for no particular reason
  • I gave the mixture one more stir for luck.
  • good luck to somebody
    (informal)used to say that you do not mind what somebody does as it does not affect you, but you hope they will be successful
  • It's not something I would care to try myself but if she wants to, good luck to her.
  • hard luck
    (British English)used to tell somebody that you feel sorry for them
  • ‘Failed again, I'm afraid.’ ‘Oh, hard luck.’
  • just my/somebody’s luck
    (informal)used to show you are not surprised something bad has happened to you, because you are not often lucky
  • Just my luck to arrive after they had left.
  • Just my luck to get the broken chair!
  • your/somebody’s luck is in
    used to say that somebody has been lucky or successful
  • On a Sunday I didn’t expect to find him at his desk but my luck was in.
  • the luck of the draw
    the fact that chance decides something, in a way that you cannot control
  • To a large extent the life you have depends on who your parents were; it’s just the luck of the biological draw.
  • no such luck
    used to show that you are disappointed because something you were hoping for did not happen
  • ‘Were you chosen for the team?’ ‘No such luck!’
  • pot luck
    when you take pot luck, you choose something or go somewhere without knowing very much about it, but hope that it will be good, pleasant, etc.
  • It's pot luck whether you get good advice or not.
  • You're welcome to stay to supper, but you'll have to take pot luck (= eat whatever is available).
  • push your luck | push it/things
    (informal)to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
  • You didn't get caught last time, but don't push your luck!
  • tough luck
    used to show sympathy for somebody that something bad that has happened to
  • ‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’
  • (ironic)used to show that you do not feel sorry for somebody who has a problem
  • ‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’
  • try your luck (at something)
    to do something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed
  • My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.
  • worse luck!
    (British English, informal)used to show that you are disappointed about something
  • I shall have to miss the party, worse luck!