at their luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at their luck" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "at their luck" as in "trying their luck"? If this is the case, you can use it when referring to someone attempting to take a chance or seek fortune in a situation. Example: "They decided to go to the casino, hoping to try their luck at the slot machines."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The lottery winners marveled at their luck.

The New York Times

The squirrels seem delirious at their luck; watching them try and jaw objects larger than their heads is one of nature's funniest home videos.

The New York Times

Is there another comedian who could come up with the fancy that there must have been the odd mole that, in the course of a normal day's digging, struck gold and then have these blind, scrabbling creatures chorusing "High three!" at their luck?

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

So the cruise line is giving them another shot at repeating their luck in 2011, according to USA Today.

Huffington Post

Max Amstutz, in his book The Golden Age of Alpine Skiing, says that in the 1920s Mürren became a magnet for aristocrats, plutocrats and people who "managed to live off their skill at skiing or their luck at poker".

The Guardian - Travel

But those who cannot put a team together may show up solo at registration and try their luck at joining with others to make up a team.

The New York Times

Still, tenants at both 20 North Fifth and Edge Community Apartments said they were largely delighted at their housing luck.

The New York Times

Some New Yorkers may rejoice at their good luck in having dodged the Olympic bullet of eight years' disruption followed by a month of citywide gridlock and lockdown.

The New York Times

It features a fascinating array of down-at-heel hopefuls who try their luck (and their money) at the dilapidated Indian Mound Downs racetrack in West Virginia.

Independent

Yet Paddington's dynamic young teachers talk of their luck at working at a school which transforms lives.

The Economist

Looked surprisingly solid at the back, even if they did ride their luck at times.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you're writing about a situation where someone is experiencing good fortune, consider using phrases such as "benefiting from their luck" or "profiting from their luck" for greater clarity and impact.

Common error

A common error is the incorrect use of the preposition "at" in conjunction with "luck". The correct and idiomatic expression is typically "try their luck" or "rely on their luck". Avoid using "at their luck" as it sounds unnatural and is not grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at their luck" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it is not grammatically sound in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, a more common expression is to use "trying their luck" or similar phrases.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at their luck" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, more suitable alternatives such as "trying their luck", "relying on their luck", or "benefiting from their luck" offer better clarity and are more widely accepted. Given its infrequent usage and grammatical issues, it is best to avoid "at their luck" in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying their luck

This alternative focuses on the act of attempting something with an uncertain outcome.

relying on their luck

Implies dependence on chance rather than skill or effort.

depending on their luck

Similar to 'relying on', but emphasizes a greater degree of chance.

trusting their luck

Suggests a degree of confidence in a positive outcome.

counting on their luck

Implies expectation that luck will play a role in a positive outcome.

taking a chance

Focuses on the act of risking something.

gambling on chance

Directly relates to the concept of a wager or risk.

leaving it to chance

Suggests a passive acceptance of whatever outcome may occur.

benefiting from their luck

Highlights the positive result of fortunate circumstances.

profiting from their luck

Specifically emphasizes gaining an advantage through good fortune.

FAQs

What is a more common way to phrase the idea of someone seeking good fortune?

A more common and grammatically correct way to express this is to say someone is "trying their luck". This phrase is widely understood and accepted.

Is "at their luck" grammatically correct in English?

No, "at their luck" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "relying on their luck" or "depending on their luck" to convey a similar meaning.

Which phrase is more appropriate: "at their luck" or "by their luck"?

Neither "at their luck" nor "by their luck" is standard English. A better option is "trying their luck" if someone is attempting something, or "benefiting from their luck" if someone is experiencing good fortune.

What are some alternatives to describe someone who is fortunate?

Instead of using "at their luck", you could describe someone as "fortunate", "lucky", or say they are "blessed". These alternatives are more idiomatic and widely accepted.