lucky not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lucky not" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you want to express a sense of fortune in a negative situation, but it is not commonly used. Example: "I was lucky not to have been caught in the storm."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was lucky not to be dismissed.

Independent

Lucas was lucky not to be booked.

Independent

He was lucky not to be executed.

The Economist

Very lucky not to nick that, Bell.

The Guardian - Sport

Lucky not to get a red.

The Guardian - Sport

We were lucky not to be shot".

The Guardian

I've been lucky not to have many bad travel experiences.

Independent

Was lucky not to get booked when he dropped Ronaldo.

The Guardian - Sport

I was lucky not to have gone to drama school.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We were lucky not to get into serious trouble.

The Guardian - Travel

That is to say, she was lucky, not good.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "fortunate to avoid" or "thankfully did not" for increased clarity and formality in professional writing.

Common error

While acceptable, repeatedly using "lucky not" can sound informal. Vary your sentence structure with alternatives such as "fortunately" or rephrasing the sentence to highlight the positive outcome directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lucky not" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a verb or clause. It expresses the idea that someone or something has avoided a negative outcome due to good fortune. Ludwig AI indicates a neutral linguistic evaluation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lucky not" is used to express that a negative outcome was avoided due to good fortune. While Ludwig AI suggests a neutral evaluation, it's frequently found in news and media contexts, making it a common phrase. When writing, remember that alternatives like "fortunate to avoid" might be more suitable for formal settings. Consider that being concise might be a good idea because there are other alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fortunate to avoid

Replaces "lucky" with "fortunate" and restructures the sentence to emphasize avoidance.

fortunate not to have

Emphasizes the absence of a negative experience due to luck or fortune.

fortunate enough to avoid

Highlights the element of good fortune in successfully avoiding something.

had the good fortune to not

Formalizes the sentiment of being lucky by explicitly stating good fortune.

thankfully did not

Focuses on gratitude for avoiding a negative outcome.

narrowly escaped

Highlights the closeness of a negative event and the subsequent escape.

dodged a bullet

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the avoidance of a potentially disastrous situation.

averted

Concise term indicating the successful prevention of an undesirable event.

spared from

Emphasizes being exempt from an undesirable experience or consequence.

saved from

Implies intervention or rescue from a potentially harmful or negative event.

FAQs

What does "lucky not" mean?

The phrase "lucky not" implies that someone avoided a potentially negative situation due to good fortune. It suggests that a less desirable outcome was possible, but didn't occur because of luck.

How can I use "lucky not" in a sentence?

You can use "lucky not" to describe a situation where someone avoided a bad outcome. For example, "He was "lucky not" to get injured during the game" indicates that there was a risk of injury, but he avoided it.

What can I say instead of "lucky not"?

You can use alternatives like "fortunate to avoid", "thankfully did not", or "narrowly escaped" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "lucky not" or "fortunate not"?

Both "lucky not" and "fortunate not" are acceptable, but "fortunate not" might be perceived as slightly more formal. The choice depends on the context and the desired tone of your writing.