luck

/luk/, n.

1. the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities: With my luck I'll probably get pneumonia.

2. good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance: He had no luck finding work.

3. a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person: She's had nothing but bad luck all year.

4. some object on which good fortune is supposed to depend: This rabbit's foot is my luck.

5. down on one's luck, in unfortunate circumstances; unlucky: She hated to see her old friend so down on her luck.

6. in luck, lucky; fortunate: We were in luck, for the bakery was still open.

7. luck of the draw, the luck one has in or as if in drawing cards.

8. out of luck, unlucky; unfortunate: When it comes to getting World Series tickets, we're usually out of luck.

9. push one's luck, Informal. to try to make too much of an opportunity; go too far. Also, crowd one's luck.

v. Informal.

10. luck into or onto, to meet, acquire, become, etc., by good luck: She lucked into a great job.

11. luck out, to have an instance or run of exceptionally good luck: He lucked out when he made a hole in one during the tournament.

12. luck upon, to come across by chance: to luck upon a profitable investment.

[1400-50; late ME luk < MD luc, aphetic form of gelucke; c. G. Glück]

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