had no luck

USAGE SUMMARY

"had no luck" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you wish to express that a situation you were hoping for did not turn out as you wanted. For example, "I tried to find a parking spot but I had no luck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We had no luck.

The New Yorker

They had no luck.

The New York Times

She had no luck.

The New York Times

Murray had no luck.

The New York Times - Sports

I still had no luck.

The New York Times

But Grant had no luck at that.

The New Yorker

So far they have had no luck.

The Economist

The Madsens had no luck at all.

The New York Times - Science

He has had no luck at all.

Independent

For now, he has had no luck.

The Economist

But so far, they've had no luck.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had no luck" to convey a lack of success in a concise and relatable manner. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "had no luck" when describing a situation where success was never a possibility. This phrase is best used when there was a reasonable expectation or attempt at achieving a positive outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had no luck" functions as a predicate expressing a lack of success or a negative outcome in a particular situation. It indicates that an attempt was made, but it did not yield the desired results. Ludwig provides examples from diverse sources, demonstrating its applicability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had no luck" is a common and versatile phrase used to express a lack of success or a failure to achieve a desired outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and it is appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news reports to personal anecdotes. While synonyms such as "was unsuccessful" or "didn't succeed" exist, "had no luck" provides a concise and easily understood way to convey a sense of disappointment when efforts don't yield positive results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

didn't succeed

A straightforward alternative, emphasizing the lack of a positive outcome.

was unsuccessful

Replaces "had no luck" with a more formal and direct statement of failure.

met with failure

Highlights the negative result of an attempt or endeavor.

came up short

An idiomatic expression suggesting a failure to reach a required standard or goal.

drew a blank

Implies a failure to find or remember something, often in a search or inquiry.

hit a dead end

Suggests encountering an obstacle that prevents further progress.

failed to deliver

Emphasizes a failure to produce the expected or promised result.

was unable to

A formal phrase denoting an absence of the required skills, time or circumstances to accomplish something.

gained no traction

Implies a failure to generate momentum or make progress in an activity or venture.

struck out

Suggests a complete failure, often used in the context of sports or dating.

FAQs

What does "had no luck" mean?

The phrase "had no luck" means that someone was unsuccessful in their attempts to achieve something, indicating a lack of favorable circumstances or fortune.

How can I use "had no luck" in a sentence?

You can use "had no luck" to describe situations where an attempt was made but did not yield the desired result. For example, "I tried to find a parking spot, but I "had no luck"".

What can I say instead of "had no luck"?

You can use alternatives like "was unsuccessful", "didn't succeed", or "met with failure" depending on the context.

Is "had no luck" formal or informal?

"Had no luck" is generally considered to be neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "was unsuccessful" may be preferred in certain situations.