blind luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blind luck" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where success or a positive outcome is achieved purely by chance, without any skill or effort involved. Example: "Winning the lottery was just blind luck; I never expected to win anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Macfarlane credits blind luck.

The New York Times - Books

And blind luck.

The New York Times

It's all blind luck.

The Guardian

Blind luck is another explanation.

The New York Times - Sports

Or perhaps it's blind luck.

The Guardian

Or it may depend on blind luck.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

That gaffe provided baseball the blind-luck excuse to fire umpires left and right, and to force Phillips out of his job.

The New York Times - Sports

Whether savvy or blind-luck, the deal is also helping keep Yahoo's stock afloat five years later.

TechCrunch

-- The stretch at Churchill Downs can seem never-ending, especially when you are aboard a talented filly named Blind Luck and you are the 6-5 favorine in the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks.

The New York Times

Rafael Bejarano knew Blind Luck had plenty of run left in her, but she had dawdled a little a bit early in the race and they had lost ground.

The New York Times

Blind Luck (9-5) fireveryery time; Unrivaled Belle (8-1) will be prominent in the stretch.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "blind luck", ensure the context clearly indicates that the outcome was purely due to chance and not influenced by skill or strategy. For example, you might say, "His unexpected promotion was simply "blind luck"."

Common error

Avoid overusing "blind luck" to dismiss accomplishments that involved genuine skill or effort. Acknowledge the role of chance without undermining the contributions of individuals or strategic decisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blind luck" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a situation where success or a positive outcome is achieved purely by chance, without skill or effort involved, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blind luck" is a noun phrase denoting success achieved purely by chance, commonly used in neutral contexts, especially in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples. While it's a valid way to describe certain situations, overusing it to undermine genuine effort should be avoided. Related phrases like "sheer chance" or "pure fortune" can offer nuanced alternatives. The key is to ensure that the context accurately reflects the absence of skill or planning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sheer chance

Emphasizes the absence of any cause or intention, focusing solely on the randomness of the event.

pure fortune

Highlights the positive aspect of luck, implying a fortunate outcome without any deserving effort.

fluke occurrence

Indicates an unusual and improbable event that happened by chance.

random happenstance

Stresses the accidental nature of an event, suggesting it was not planned or predictable.

accidental success

Focuses on the positive result achieved unexpectedly and without deliberate effort.

fortunate coincidence

Highlights the lucky alignment of events that leads to a positive outcome.

lucky break

Implies a sudden and unexpected opportunity or advantage gained by chance.

stroke of good fortune

Suggests a significant and positive event happening purely by chance.

windfall

Refers to an unexpected and substantial gain or advantage, often financial.

serendipitous event

Indicates a fortunate discovery or occurrence made by accident.

FAQs

How can I use "blind luck" in a sentence?

You can use "blind luck" to describe a situation where someone succeeds purely by chance. For example, "Winning the lottery was just "blind luck"." or "He survived the accident through sheer "blind luck"".

What phrases are similar to "blind luck"?

Alternatives to "blind luck" include "sheer chance", "pure fortune", or "fluke occurrence", all emphasizing the role of chance.

Is it appropriate to attribute someone's success entirely to "blind luck"?

While "blind luck" can play a role, attributing success solely to it might dismiss the individual's efforts, skills, or strategic decisions. It's often more accurate to acknowledge both luck and effort.

What is the difference between "blind luck" and "good fortune"?

"Blind luck" emphasizes the randomness and lack of control in an event, whereas "good fortune" implies a positive outcome that may or may not be entirely due to chance; it can also suggest a blessing or favor.