rode their luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rode their luck" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is typically used to describe someone who has achieved success, often in spite of unfavorable or risky circumstances. For example: "The team was down by three goals at halftime, but they rode their luck and ended up winning the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

United rode their luck.

The Guardian - Sport

If that was good, Wednesday then rode their luck before half-time.

The Guardian - Sport

The home side rode their luck until Alexander Ryan's own goal just before the half-hour.

The Guardian - Sport

The UAE rode their luck at times against the Samurai Blue but more important was belief.

The Guardian - Sport

Speroni was scrambling but, not for the only time during this game, Palace rode their luck.

The Guardian - Sport

Rodgers insisted there was no surprise that his side rode their luck at times.

The Guardian - Sport

That, though, is not necessarily to say that the visitors rode their luck.

The Guardian - Sport

He called it a basketball match, and McClaren had the decency to admit his team rode their luck at times.

Independent

New York meanwhile, rode their luck at times – perhaps enjoying the distinct novelty of their being any luck to ride.

The Guardian - Sport

And sure Melbourne rode their luck, with both of their goals having an element of good fortune.

The Guardian - Sport

And even Paraguayans admit that their team, which did not have a shot on goal for 88 minutes, rode their luck and had a heroic goalie, Justo Villar.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rode their luck", ensure it's clear what specific risks or challenges the subject overcame. Providing context strengthens the impact of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "rode their luck" when success was solely due to skill or strategy. This phrase specifically indicates a significant element of chance or good fortune contributing to the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rode their luck" functions as a commentary on a situation where success was achieved despite unfavorable odds or circumstances, implying an element of chance. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is both correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rode their luck" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations where success is achieved despite significant risks or a high degree of chance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and frequently appears in news and media contexts. When using "rode their luck", it's important to imply both the achievement and the elements of good fortune that contributed to the outcome. While generally positive, be mindful of potential implications that success wasn't fully deserved. Alternative phrases like "benefited from good fortune" or "succeeded against the odds" can offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality. The examples on Ludwig show how ubiquitous is the phrase in sports journalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

benefited from good fortune

This alternative highlights the positive outcome resulting from chance occurrences.

capitalized on chance

This option emphasizes actively taking advantage of opportunities presented by luck.

succeeded against the odds

Focuses on the success achieved despite challenging or improbable circumstances.

had a stroke of good fortune

Underscores the sudden and unexpected nature of the positive outcome.

got lucky

A more informal and direct way of saying someone experienced good luck.

fluked a win

Implies the victory was largely due to chance rather than skill.

pulled off an upset

Describes a win against a favored opponent, often involving luck.

got away with it

Suggests narrowly avoiding negative consequences due to luck.

dodged a bullet

Emphasizes escaping a potentially harmful situation through good fortune.

beat the odds

Highlights overcoming unfavorable probabilities to achieve success.

FAQs

How can I use "rode their luck" in a sentence?

Use "rode their luck" to describe a situation where someone succeeded, even though they faced significant challenges or the outcome depended largely on chance. For example: "Despite several near misses, the team "rode their luck" to win the championship."

What's a more formal way to say "rode their luck"?

More formal alternatives to "rode their luck" include "benefited from good fortune", "capitalized on chance", or "succeeded against the odds".

Is it always positive to say someone "rode their luck"?

While generally positive, saying someone ""rode their luck"" can sometimes imply that their success wasn't entirely deserved or relied too heavily on chance. Consider the context carefully.

What is the difference between ""rode their luck"" and "earned their victory"?

"Rode their luck" suggests chance played a significant role in the success, while "earned their victory" emphasizes skill, effort, and strategy as the primary drivers of the outcome. They are not interchangeable.