for the Luck of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for the Luck of" is not standard in written English and may be confusing.
It could be used in contexts discussing luck or fortune, but it is not commonly recognized as a fixed expression. Example: "For the luck of the draw, we ended up with the best team."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

For the Luck of the Irish.

The New York Times

But for the luck of geography, this futuristic technology park could have resembled a scene from the most expensive disaster movie ever made.

The New York Times

So much for the luck of the Irish on an opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth which saw Rory McIlroy fall victim to golf's lurking demons and Graeme McDowell lose out to golf's befuddling rules.

The Guardian - Sport

With a focus on soldiers' narratives, the gist of my claim was that blaming oneself for the luck of surviving war, or for accidents where there is no culpability or negligence, seems  in one sense irrational, and yet in another perfectly morally reasonable.

The New York Times

But we sat up late and woke up early, and seeing the images of devastation and hearing the news of real peril elsewhere gives rise to gratitude, expressed to metaphorical higher powers, for the luck of the draw this time and to worry and best wishes for those who are bearing the brunt of the storm.

The New Yorker

The usual fawning adoration of someone just for the luck of their bones is in evidence, but so too are the cutaways of Campbell's fellow judges' faces registering weary disdain as she takes some comment or other the wrong way, calls Trunfio "a bitch" and stalks haughtily off the set only to find she doesn't know where the door is and she can't get out.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

For all the "luck" of the career, it was a life lived with a strong awareness of social and cultural responsibility.

The Guardian - Books

Unfortunately, for Trump, the luck of Jupiter is gone from his chart.

Huffington Post

For defendants, it is the luck of the draw.

The New York Times

For it he wrote "The Luck of Roaring Camp" and "The Outcasts of Poker Flat".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Harte's most famous story, for instance, was called "The Luck of Roaring Camp".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and readily understood alternatives like "by chance" or "due to luck" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "for the luck of" too frequently, as it may sound repetitive or unnatural. Instead, try to vary your language by incorporating synonyms or alternative expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the luck of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating that an event or outcome is attributed to chance or fortune. Ludwig AI suggests that this is not a standard phrase and the example sentences show limited use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for the luck of" is a prepositional phrase indicating that an event is attributed to chance or good fortune. Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is not standard in written English, and its usage is relatively rare. While grammatically acceptable, more common alternatives like "by chance" or "due to luck" may provide greater clarity. It appears primarily in news and media contexts. Therefore, writers should consider audience and context when choosing to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by good luck

This alternative is a more direct and common way to express the role of luck.

thanks to luck

This alternative emphasizes gratitude for a lucky outcome.

through good fortune

This emphasizes that good fortune was the instrument to achieve something.

due to fortune

This alternative focuses on fortune as the cause or reason for something.

because of good fortune

Highlights that the positive outcome resulted from favorable circumstances.

as a result of chance

Emphasizes that the outcome was determined by random, unpredictable factors.

by virtue of luck

Suggests that luck played a significant role in achieving a particular result.

owing to chance

Indicates that the outcome was a direct consequence of random events.

attributable to luck

Suggests that the outcome can be traced back to fortunate circumstances.

merely by chance

Highlights that the outcome happened solely due to randomness, with no skill or intention involved.

FAQs

What does "for the luck of" mean?

The phrase "for the luck of" generally refers to something happening due to chance or good fortune. However, it is not a very common expression.

What can I say instead of "for the luck of"?

You can use alternatives like "by chance", "due to luck", or "thanks to luck" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "for the luck of"?

While not grammatically incorrect, the expression "for the luck of" is not standard in written English. It is acceptable, but less common and may sound slightly awkward to some.

How can I use "for the luck of" in a sentence?

You can use "for the luck of" to indicate that something occurred because of chance or fortune. For example, "For the luck of the draw, we ended up with the best team."