have bad luck

USAGE SUMMARY

'have bad luck' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to misfortune or something going wrong for someone. For example, "Sarah was supposed to go on vacation last week, but she had bad luck and her flight was cancelled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

I have bad luck with dogs.

The New York Times

Did Jon simply have bad luck?

The New York Times

What I mean is, some people just have bad luck".

The New Yorker

"We are going through a period where we have bad luck.

Independent

"I don't think we feel in the family that we have bad luck," she says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You have to be lucky and the others have to have bad luck".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

You had bad luck?

The New York Times - Arts

It has had bad luck.

The Economist

He was having bad luck.

The Guardian - Books

In part, Barshay had bad luck.

The Washington Post

He always had bad luck with injuries.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of unfortunate events, use "have bad luck" to introduce the general concept before detailing specific examples.

Common error

Avoid framing "bad luck" as a direct result of personal failings. Focus on external circumstances or chance rather than blaming the individual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have bad luck" functions as a predicative expression, where "have" is the main verb and "bad luck" is the object. It describes the experience of misfortune or unfavorable outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have bad luck" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the experience of misfortune. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a variety of situations. Related phrases include "experience misfortune" and "suffer adversity". When using the phrase, it's important to focus on external circumstances rather than attributing bad luck solely to personal flaws. Common mistakes include blaming the individual instead of focusing on external factors. Overall, "have bad luck" is a straightforward and widely understood way to express the concept of misfortune.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience misfortune

Emphasizes the occurrence of unfortunate events.

face ill-fortune

A more formal way of expressing bad luck.

suffer adversity

Highlights hardship and difficulties faced.

be down on one's luck

Describes a temporary state of misfortune, often financial.

encounter setbacks

Focuses on obstacles hindering progress.

be plagued by misfortune

Implies persistent and troublesome bad luck.

be jinxed

Suggests a supernatural cause for the misfortune.

get the worst of it

Focuses on receiving the unfavorable outcome in a situation.

be cursed

Indicates a serious and prolonged state of very bad luck.

draw the short straw

Highlights being chosen for an undesirable outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "have bad luck" in a sentence?

You can use "have bad luck" to describe situations where someone experiences misfortune, such as "Despite her efforts, she seemed to "have bad luck" with finding a job".

What's a more formal way to say "have bad luck"?

Alternatives to "have bad luck" include "suffer adversity" or "face ill-fortune", which are more formal and emphasize the hardship experienced.

Is it correct to say "had bad luck"?

Yes, "had bad luck" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct, as in "He "had bad luck" with his investments last year".

What's the difference between "have bad luck" and "be unlucky"?

"Have bad luck" is a phrase, while "be unlucky" is an adjective phrase. Both convey a similar meaning, but "be unlucky" directly describes someone's state, while "have bad luck" describes the experience.