hard luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard luck" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express sympathy or disappointment regarding someone's misfortune or bad luck. Example: "I heard you lost the game; that's really hard luck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Hard luck, Mr Chairman!

Independent

Hard luck, all right.

The New Yorker

No: hard luck world.

The Economist

Hard luck follows him.

The New York Times - Books

Hard luck if so.

The Guardian - Sport

Hard luck Helen.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"There are all these hard-luck stories.

The New Yorker

Caddyshacks are full of hard-luck stories.

The New York Times

Ours is not a hard-luck story.

The Guardian

"This isn't a hard-luck story.

The Guardian

There were panhandlers with a variety of hard-luck stories.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard luck" when you want to express sympathy or acknowledge someone's misfortune in a concise and somewhat informal way. It's suitable for everyday conversations and less formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "hard luck" in highly formal or professional settings, as it can come across as dismissive or lacking in empathy. Opt for more formal expressions of sympathy, like "I'm sorry to hear that" or "That's unfortunate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard luck" functions primarily as an interjection, used to express sympathy or acknowledgment of someone's misfortune. Ludwig shows its usage in various contexts, mostly expressing sorrow.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard luck" is a common phrase used as an interjection to express sympathy or acknowledgment of someone's misfortune. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples from reliable sources, primarily in the news and media. While it's generally acceptable in neutral to informal contexts, it might be too informal for highly professional or academic settings. Alternatives such as "tough break" or "that's too bad" can be used depending on the specific situation and desired level of formality. Therefore, use "hard luck" with awareness of the context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough break

Focuses on the unfortunate event being a setback.

bad break

Similar to "tough break", emphasizing the misfortune.

that's a shame

Expresses regret or disappointment about the situation.

that's too bad

Expresses sympathy, acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances.

unfortunate

Directly describes the situation as unfavorable.

what a pity

Indicates sorrow or regret about the event.

it's regrettable

Highlights the negative aspect and expresses sorrow.

that's a bummer

Informal way of expressing disappointment.

that's rough

Emphasizes the difficulty or unpleasantness of the situation.

bad news

Simply states that the news is negative.

FAQs

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

"Hard luck" is typically used as an interjection to express sympathy or disappointment regarding someone's misfortune. For example, "I heard you lost the game; that's really hard luck".

What can I say instead of "hard luck"?

You can use alternatives like "tough break", "that's a shame", or "that's too bad" depending on the context.

Is "hard luck" appropriate in professional emails?

While "hard luck" can be used in informal emails between colleagues, it's generally better to use more formal expressions of sympathy in professional contexts. Consider phrases like "I'm sorry to hear that" or "That's unfortunate".

What's the difference between "hard luck" and "tough luck"?

"Hard luck" and "tough luck" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. However, "tough luck" can sometimes carry a slightly more dismissive tone, while "hard luck" tends to be more sympathetic.