lucky encounter

USAGE SUMMARY

"lucky encounter" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a chance meeting or unexpected meeting that has positive consequences. For example: - "I consider it a lucky encounter that I bumped into my old friend at the grocery store. We ended up catching up for hours." - "The couple's storybook love began with a lucky encounter at a coffee shop." - "The entrepreneur's luck seemed to change after a lucky encounter with a potential investor at a networking event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Nhu: It was just a lucky encounter.

The New York Times

And, if you're lucky, encounter a fata morgana – the mirages, common to polar extremes, that shimmer in the air like fantasy castles.

The Guardian - Travel

But his diligent advances on the security agency come to nothing until he has a lucky encounter with a shard of infected glass.

The New York Times - Arts

If they were sufficiently familiar with the lime market and able to evaluate the quality of lime themselves, they would contact the suppliers directly this is why the suppliers might sometimes have a lucky encounter with "caishenye" (God of Wealth).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

You can see vintage planes and vehicles, hear Tom Hanks narrate the 4-D film Beyond All Boundaries, and if you're really lucky, encounter veterans serving as docents and get to hear their reminiscences; be sure to thank them for their service.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

With culture as its number one priority, his team is always grasping for an answer to the question, "How do you architect serendipity?" Answer: get more lucky encounters to happen.

HuffPost

Sherman is lucky the encounter did not escalate into something physical and ugly.

The New York Times - Sports

All of these things increase the odds that our kids will meet more people, which in turn increase the odds that they will have a lucky chance encounter.

University of California, Berkeley

He was the kind of school administrator some college students might have considered themselves lucky to encounter, someone who was willing to raise grades issued by professors when the students' marks fell short of graduation requirements.

The New York Times

I was 28 and just finishing a book of essays, I'd been lucky to encounter other books Kraus had edited in the Native Agents series, but I Love Dick connected the dots for the first time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Did I mention this was a Catholic boys school in the 1960s?) I took journalism more seriously at my college paper, where I was lucky to encounter a few student editors who understood that the most important thing, Dyllan and Josh, (and the hardest thing, Alik and Callen) is not the writing or the sense of independence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify who or what was encountered. For example, "a lucky encounter with a potential mentor" is more descriptive than simply "a lucky encounter".

Common error

Avoid using "lucky encounter" to describe events with negative consequences. The phrase inherently carries a positive connotation. If the meeting or event had adverse results, consider using phrases like "unfortunate meeting" or "difficult encounter" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lucky encounter" functions as a noun phrase, where "lucky" modifies the noun "encounter". It describes a specific type of meeting or event characterized by good fortune. As noted by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lucky encounter" is a noun phrase used to describe a chance meeting or unexpected event with positive consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, predominantly appearing in News & Media, Academic, and Scientific sources. While not overly formal, it is a descriptive and effective way to convey a sense of fortunate happenstance. Alternatives like "fortunate meeting" or "serendipitous meeting" can provide similar nuances, depending on the desired emphasis. Remember to use "lucky encounter" to describe situations that truly had a favorable outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fortunate meeting

Emphasizes the positive outcome of the meeting.

auspicious meeting

Highlights the favorable or promising nature of the encounter.

chance meeting with good results

Specifies that the meeting was unplanned and yielded positive outcomes.

serendipitous meeting

Implies a fortunate and unexpected discovery or event during the meeting.

providential encounter

Suggests that the meeting was divinely arranged or guided.

happy coincidence

Focuses on the pleasant and unplanned nature of the meeting.

favorable convergence

Emphasizes the positive alignment of circumstances during the meeting.

golden opportunity

Highlights the advantageous prospects resulting from the meeting.

opportune moment

Focuses on the timing and appropriateness of the meeting.

windfall meeting

Implies that the meeting brought unexpected benefits or good fortune.

FAQs

What does "lucky encounter" mean?

"Lucky encounter" refers to a chance meeting or unexpected event that has positive and beneficial consequences. It often implies good fortune or serendipity.

How can I use "lucky encounter" in a sentence?

You can use "lucky encounter" to describe a situation where a chance meeting leads to a favorable outcome. For example, "Their business partnership began with a "chance meeting" at a conference that they both consider a "lucky encounter".

What are some alternatives to "lucky encounter"?

Alternatives to "lucky encounter" include phrases like "fortunate meeting", "serendipitous meeting", or "auspicious meeting", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "lucky encounter" formal or informal?

"Lucky encounter" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a relatively neutral phrase that is appropriate for a variety of situations.