with no luck

USAGE SUMMARY

"with no luck" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that something has not worked out the way you expected or hoped, or when you are trying to emphasize the lack of success. For example: "I tried to land the big contract but, with no luck, I was unsuccessful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sunday with no luck.

The New York Times

With no luck.

The New York Times - Sports

He tried eight times with no luck.

The New Yorker

She sent résumés all over the place, with no luck.

The New York Times

I searched for my house keys, but with no luck.

The New Yorker

They had searched at least four hospitals with no luck.

The New York Times

I called every one I could find, with no luck.

The New York Times - Food

He looked on the R train, with no luck.

The New York Times

I've tried sycamore, hack berry, and hickory with no luck, but have not pursued them.

Cornell University

I sent my résumé to dozens of design firms, with no luck.

The New York Times

Two middle-aged women were looking for Milky Ways, with no luck.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with no luck" to concisely convey the lack of success in an attempt or search. It's particularly effective when you want to avoid a lengthy explanation of the failed effort.

Common error

While "with no luck" is widely understood, consider more formal alternatives like "without success" or "unsuccessfully" /s/without+success in academic or professional contexts to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase. "With no luck" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed, specifically highlighting the absence of a favorable outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with no luck" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a lack of success or a disappointing outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for general use, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like ""without success"" or ""unsuccessfully"" in professional or academic writing. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier and serves to communicate that an attempt failed to produce the intended result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without success

More formal and slightly emphasizes the absence of a positive outcome.

the endeavor was unsuccessful

More formal and highlights the failure of the overall effort.

without any results

Focuses on the lack of tangible outcomes.

unsuccessfully

Single-word adverb, simpler and more direct.

the attempt failed

Directly states the failure of the endeavor.

to no avail

More literary and suggests a futile attempt.

despite best efforts

Highlights the effort expended, even though it did not yield desired results.

in vain

Similar to "to no avail" but even more emphatic about the futility.

it was fruitless

Emphasizes the lack of productivity or benefit from the effort.

it didn't work out

Informal and emphasizes the failure to achieve the desired result.

FAQs

How can I use "with no luck" in a sentence?

You can use "with no luck" to indicate a failed attempt or search, such as, "I searched for my keys, but "with no luck".".

What are some alternatives to saying "with no luck"?

Alternatives include "without success", "unsuccessfully", or "to no avail", depending on the context and desired formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "with no luck"?

Yes, "with no luck" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English to describe a lack of success.

What is the difference between "with no luck" and "without luck"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "with no luck" is the more common and idiomatic expression. "Without luck" is less frequently used.