major luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "major luck" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It could be used informally to emphasize a significant amount of luck in a situation, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "Winning the lottery was major luck for him, as he had never expected it."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The 39-year-old is due some major luck.

The Guardian - Sport

In his major, Luck is known as much for staying at office hours until 1 a.m. as for his football exploits.

The New York Times - Sports

But he didn't exactly reject it either and agreed that there had been some major luck in his life.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Buttler's innings contained one major slice of luck.

The Guardian - Sport

Matilda's major piece of luck was to have produced an acceptable heir.

The New York Times - Books

A major stroke of luck was his being cast in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926).

Encyclopedia Britannica

His one major slice of luck here was a walk-over against Safin in the third round, the Russian having injured his left arm.

The Guardian - Sport

There was one major stroke of luck for Redknapp's team when the erratic French referee Laurent Duhamel inexplicably failed to spot the fact that the goalscorer Jermain Defoe had controlled the ball with his arm.

Independent

It must feel like a major stroke of luck that "The Female Persuasion," which examines, among other things, the mottled legacy that second-wave feminism has left for American women now coming of age, arrives in the midst of the most prominent popular feminist movement in decades.

The New Yorker

He has spoken out, for instance, at the glorification of Captain Sullenberger, explaining that while the pilot deserves the utmost respect, the water landing was a standard manoeuvre made possible by a major slice of luck – that the collision with a flock of geese took place right by "a 12-mile runway of smoothly flowing river, within swimming distance of the country's largest city".

The Guardian

He asked, "What suggestions do you now have, John, to help put right a very major wrong?" Tough luck, Snow's office says now.   –J.N.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "major luck", consider if a more common phrase like "great luck" or "stroke of luck" might sound more natural to your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "major luck" in highly formal or academic writing, as it can sound informal or slightly awkward. Opt for more conventional expressions like "significant good fortune" or "a fortunate turn of events" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major luck" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "major" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "luck". It describes the degree or extent of the luck experienced. According to Ludwig, the phrase is acceptable although not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major luck" is an adjective-noun combination used to describe a significant amount of good fortune. While grammatically correct, it's not a widely used expression; alternatives such as "great luck" or "stroke of luck" are more common. Ludwig AI indicates it is acceptable but not standard, with a neutral tone suitable for news or general communication. It can be effectively employed to underscore the role of chance in a given situation, even if it is best to reserve it for cases where a more emphatic expression is necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant luck

Replaces "major" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the luck.

considerable luck

Uses "considerable" instead of "major", highlighting the substantial amount of luck involved.

great luck

Substitutes "major" with "great", a common synonym for significant good fortune.

tremendous luck

Employs "tremendous" to underscore the exceptional degree of luck.

immense luck

Replaces "major" with "immense" to highlight the vastness of the luck.

stroke of luck

Rephrases as "stroke of luck", indicating a sudden and fortunate event.

fortunate break

Replaces with "fortunate break", emphasizing the positive opportunity arising from luck.

lucky break

Similar to "fortunate break", but uses a more common expression.

windfall

Uses "windfall" to denote an unexpected and substantial gain.

fluke

Replaces with "fluke" which indicates an accidental stroke of luck.

FAQs

What does "major luck" mean?

"Major luck" implies a significant or substantial amount of good fortune or a positive outcome primarily due to chance. It suggests that luck played a crucial role in achieving a favorable result.

What are some alternatives to saying "major luck"?

You can use alternatives like "great luck", "significant luck", or "fortunate break" depending on the specific context.

Is "major luck" grammatically correct?

While grammatically sound, "major luck" isn't a standard or commonly used expression. It's understandable but may sound slightly awkward to some speakers. It's better to use phrases like "great luck" or "stroke of luck".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "major luck"?

The term "major luck" can be used informally to emphasize a substantial element of luck in a particular situation. However, it may not be suitable for formal or academic writing where more conventional expressions are preferred.