always unlucky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "always unlucky" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who consistently experiences bad luck or misfortune. An example could be: "He seems to be always unlucky when it comes to finding a parking spot." Alternative expressions include "perpetually unfortunate" and "constantly unlucky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"The poor are always unlucky, there is nothing we can do," she said with a shrug.

The Guardian

In "The Philosophy of Perception" he engages in the debate by defending Reid against criticisms in Thomas Brown's posthumously published Lectures, and in a very vigorous manner—"It is always unlucky to stumble on the threshold.

SEP

Instead of grappling with their messy but incredibly rich facets, as Lena Dunham attempts with Girls, networks retreat to traffic in safer tropes: the career-driven woman with no time for a love life, the woman "always unlucky in love" or the smart, self-aware woman trying to figure out "how to have it all".

Huffington Post

Typical NAT's are "I am always unlucky", "I never get things right" (Crandell and Chambless 1986; Brewin 1989; Barber and Derubeis 1989; Padesky and Greenberger 1995).

Archives of Women's Mental Health

Short strips included Joe from Strawberry Farm, and Ernie, Always Unlucky.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Gordon is physically unexceptional, and his conversation marks him out as a conceited bully whose sense of humor extends little farther than saying to Louisa, during lovemaking, "Oh, if only I were in bed with a nice woman now," or putting on a Cockney accent and whining, "Why am I always so unlucky with women?" Such remarks are guaranteed to raise a laugh from Louisa.

The New York Times - Books

Bananas have always been unlucky in the sense that they grow in regions that are intermittently battered by tropical cyclones.

Vice

On trips to Las Vegas, I have always been an unlucky gambler.

The New York Times - Travel

When Mourinho came we had been knocked out for six straight seasons in the round of 16 of the Champions League and we were 13th in the Uefa rankings, and when he left we were number one and we made it to three consecutive semi-finals always losing in unlucky circumstances.

The Guardian - Sport

'Mark was reading the book one day and he said, "People always call us unlucky, but look at this guy!" It doesn't bother me that people bring up the past, but it bothers the rest of them - they don't like being called survivors.

The Guardian

"She always considered herself an unlucky person, and it really proved out," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific domains to add clarity, such as being "always unlucky" in love, gambling, or timing.

Common error

Do not use "always unlucky" in objective scientific reporting unless you are explicitly discussing a series of negative variables or defining a 'Negative Automatic Thought' (NAT). In precise data analysis, attributing results to 'luck' rather than specific causal factors can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "always unlucky" functions as an adjective phrase where the adverb 'always' modifies the adjective 'unlucky'. In most examples provided by Ludwig, it serves as a subject complement following a linking verb (e.g., "the poor are...", "I have always been...") to characterize the subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academic Institutions

4%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis from Ludwig confirms that "always unlucky" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to describe chronic misfortune. While it appears most frequently in News & Media to add narrative weight to personal tragedies, it also holds a place in scientific discourse regarding Negative Automatic Thoughts. Ludwig AI suggests that while the phrase is sound, writers should be mindful of its fatalistic tone, which can sometimes veer into hyperbole. It is best used when describing subjective experiences or recurring literary tropes rather than as a literal statistical claim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perpetually unfortunate

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe an unending state of bad luck.

consistently ill-fated

Suggests a more dramatic or destined sense of bad fortune.

persistently luckless

Emphasizes the duration and stubbornness of the bad luck.

habitually luckless

Focuses on the repetitive nature of the misfortune.

forever star-crossed

Adds a poetic or literary layer, implying destiny is against the person.

chronically down on one's luck

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe a long-term period of hardship.

constantly jinxed

Suggests a supernatural or superstitious cause for the bad luck.

regularly cursed

Stronger and more hyperbolic, implying an active force of misfortune.

endlessly disadvantaged

Often used in socio-economic contexts rather than just random luck.

always drawing the short straw

An idiomatic alternative focused on specific outcomes of chance.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "always unlucky"?

You can use more descriptive alternatives such as "perpetually unfortunate", "consistently ill-fated", or "habitually luckless" depending on how formal you want to be.

How to use "always unlucky" in a sentence?

It is typically used after a linking verb, for example: "He felt he was "destined to be" "always unlucky" when it came to his career choices."

What's the difference between "always unlucky" and "consistently unlucky"?

While very similar, "consistently unlucky" sounds slightly more analytical, whereas "always unlucky" often carries a more emotional or fatalistic tone.

Can I use "always unlucky" in a professional context?

Yes, though it is more common in journalism and literature. In professional settings, you might prefer "historically disadvantaged" or "subject to unfortunate timing" to maintain a more objective distance.