wish good luck

USAGE SUMMARY

"wish good luck" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express good wishes for someone who is about to embark on a new endeavor or venture. For example, "I'm so excited for you to start your new job; I wish you good luck!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

I wish good luck to all the cities in Yorkshire".

Independent

"I wish good luck to Walker and England against Brazil".

Independent

I wish good luck to the French national team".

The Guardian - Sport

Better to wave them goodbye and wish good luck to their next employer.

The Economist

It was to wish good luck to the Greek team that will compete in London, complete with the slogan "Greece you can do it".

Independent

"I wish good luck to all of the Republican candidates that travelled to California to beg for money etc from the Koch Brothers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Here's wishing good luck, and good will, to us all.

The New York Times

And he also wished good luck to the U.S. Olympics team in Brazil.

The New Yorker

Barnier wished "good luck" to those in London mulling legal action to try to overturn the bonus ceilings.

The Guardian - Business

But on a famous YouTube clip, he can be heard wishing good luck to an opponent he is about to fight.

The New York Times - Sports

The Spurs midfielder took to Twitter to tell fans that he was fit and wished good luck to his teammates ahead of the game.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In very formal professional settings, you might prefer "wish you every success" to sound more polished.

Common error

Avoid saying "I wish for good luck to you". While "wish for" is used when desiring something abstract for oneself (e.g., "I wish for peace"), when directing the wish toward another person, the preposition "to" is usually paired directly with the verb or the indirect object is used without a preposition at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wish good luck" functions as a transitive verb phrase used to express a desire for someone's success. According to Ludwig AI, it is standard English and is frequently seen with an indirect object (wish someone good luck) or followed by a prepositional phrase (wish good luck to someone).

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academic

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "wish good luck" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct phrase in English. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across multiple high-authority domains, from major news outlets like The New York Times to international organizations like Unicef. Whether you are using it in a neutral news report or a personal note of encouragement, it remains one of the most reliable ways to express support. For writers seeking variety, alternatives like "best of luck" or "all the best" can provide different shades of formality while maintaining the same positive intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wish you the best

Slightly more formal and encompassing more than just immediate luck.

best of luck

A more concise and very common alternative.

all the best

Common as a closing or a quick parting wish for future success.

wish someone well

Broader in scope, referring to general health and happiness.

fingers crossed

Informal gesture-based idiom implying hope for a positive outcome.

break a leg

An idiomatic expression specifically used in the context of performing arts.

hope for the best

Focuses more on the speaker's expectation than a direct wish to another.

send good vibes

A modern, informal, and more spiritual way to express positive support.

offer encouragement

Describes the act of wishing luck in a more descriptive, formal way.

Godspeed

A very formal or archaic way to wish someone a safe and successful journey.

FAQs

How to use "wish good luck" in a sentence?

You can use it to express support, such as: "I want to "wish the team good luck" before the big game".

What can I say instead of "wish good luck"?

You can use alternatives like "best of luck", "all the best", or "break a leg" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "wish good luck" and "best of luck"?

The phrase "wish good luck" is the action (verb), whereas "best of luck" is often used as a standalone noun phrase or exclamation.

Is it "wish good luck to you" or "wish you good luck"?

Both are correct, but "wish you good luck" is more common and direct in everyday English.