60 Idioms for Good Luck

Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with wishing someone good luck.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for good luck that mean wishing success, having fortune, and catching a break. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Good Luck

1. Break a leg

Meaning: A theatrical way of wishing someone good luck before a performance.

For Example: The drama teacher smiled and told us to break a leg on stage. / Before walking up to the microphone, my friend whispered break a leg.

Other Ways to Say: Good luck / Do well

2. Knock on wood

Meaning: To tap on a wooden surface to protect your current good fortune.

For Example: My bicycle has never had a flat tire, knock on wood. / We hope to win the game, knock on wood.

Other Ways to Say: Touch wood / Guard luck

3. Touch wood

Meaning: A phrase said to protect your good luck from bad fortune.

For Example: I have never missed a day of school, touch wood. / Our team has won three games in a row, touch wood.

Other Ways to Say: Knock on wood / Guard luck

4. Cross your fingers

Meaning: To hope for good luck and a happy future outcome.

For Example: We crossed our fingers while waiting to hear the results of the science fair. / Cross your fingers that the weather stays sunny for our field trip.

Other Ways to Say: Hope for luck / Wish well

5. Keep your fingers crossed

Meaning: To earnestly wish for a positive and lucky result.

For Example: I kept my fingers crossed while opening my test grade paper. / We are keeping our fingers crossed that our puppy wins the costume contest.

Other Ways to Say: Hope for the best / Wish for luck

6. Strike gold

Meaning: To experience sudden and wonderful good luck or success.

For Example: When I found a rare comic book at the garage sale, I felt like I struck gold. / The science project team struck gold when their idea won first place.

Other Ways to Say: Have great luck / Succeed big

7. Hit the jackpot

Meaning: To win or experience a massive stroke of unexpected good luck.

For Example: Finding that rare baseball card in the old box felt like hitting the jackpot. / We hit the jackpot when the library received all new fantasy books.

Other Ways to Say: Win big / Have great luck

8. On a roll

Meaning: Having a continuous streak of good luck and success.

For Example: Our school soccer team scored three games in a row because they are on a roll. / I guessed four trivia questions right, so I knew I was on a roll.

Other Ways to Say: Winning streak / Doing great

9. Land on your feet

Meaning: To survive a risky situation and end up lucky and safe.

For Example: He dropped his puzzle, but all the pieces landed right side up so he landed on his feet. / Even after making a mistake, she always lands on her feet.

Other Ways to Say: Recover well / Be lucky

10. Blessing in disguise

Meaning: A bad event at first that turns out to bring good luck later.

For Example: Missing our bus was a blessing in disguise because we found a lost puppy. / Losing the first game proved to be a blessing in disguise for our practice strategy.

Other Ways to Say: Hidden good fortune / Lucky turn

11. Right place at the right time

Meaning: Being in a specific spot at the exact moment good luck happens.

For Example: He found a dropped dollar bill because he was in the right place at the right time. / Winning the raffle ticket happened because she was in the right place at the right time.

Other Ways to Say: Fortunate timing / Lucky break

12. Lucky break

Meaning: A sudden, helpful event that brings unexpected good fortune.

For Example: The rain stopped right as our soccer game started, which was a lucky break. / Finding an extra pencil in my desk was a lucky break during the test.

Other Ways to Say: Good fortune / Sudden luck

13. Stroke of luck

Meaning: A sudden and surprising piece of good fortune.

For Example: Guessing the winning raffle number was pure stroke of luck. / Finding my lost house key in the grass was a wonderful stroke of luck.

Other Ways to Say: Lucky moment / Good fortune

14. Lady luck

Meaning: A fun name for the spirit of good fortune and chance.

For Example: Lady luck was certainly on our side when we won the board game. / We hoped lady luck would help us draw the winning card.

Other Ways to Say: Good fortune / Chance

15. Born under a lucky star

Meaning: Believed to have lifelong good luck and protection from harm.

For Example: Finding a four-leaf clover made him feel like he was born under a lucky star. / She always wins the carnival games as if she was born under a lucky star.

Other Ways to Say: Forever fortunate / Very lucky

16. Have the Midas touch

Meaning: The ability to turn everything you do into a lucky success.

For Example: Every painting she enters in the art show wins a ribbon, she has the Midas touch. / His gardening projects always grow tall because he has the Midas touch.

Other Ways to Say: Be successful / Have great luck

17. Beginner’s luck

Meaning: Unexpected good fortune when doing something for the very first time.

For Example: He won the bowling match on his first try, which was pure beginner’s luck. / Don’t expect to win chess every time just because of beginner’s luck.

Other Ways to Say: First-time fortune / Lucky start

18. Catch a break

Meaning: To finally experience some good luck after a hard time.

For Example: After studying all week, I finally caught a break on the difficult quiz. / The struggling team needed to catch a break to win the game.

Other Ways to Say: Get lucky / Find fortune

19. Find a four-leaf clover

Meaning: A classic symbol of rare and wonderful good luck.

For Example: She looked through the green lawn until she found a four-leaf clover. / Keeping a pressed four-leaf clover in your book brings good luck.

Other Ways to Say: Rare luck / Fortunate find

20. Rabbit’s foot

Meaning: An old symbol or item believed to bring good luck to the owner.

For Example: He kept a small toy rabbit’s foot in his backpack for math tests. / Winning the spelling bee didn’t need a rabbit’s foot, just hard work.

Other Ways to Say: Good luck charm / Talisman

21. Work like a charm

Meaning: To operate or turn out with absolute success and good luck.

For Example: I tried the new computer shortcut and it worked like a charm. / Applying cold water to the scrape worked like a charm.

Other Ways to Say: Succeed perfectly / Work wonderfully

22. Wind at your back

Meaning: Having support and good luck helping you move forward easily.

For Example: Riding our bicycles downhill with the wind at our back felt amazing. / Having supportive friends is like having the wind at your back.

Other Ways to Say: Good support / Easy progress

23. Golden opportunity

Meaning: A rare and valuable chance that brings wonderful luck.

For Example: Meeting the famous author was a golden opportunity for our book club. / Joining the science lab offered a golden opportunity to learn coding.

Other Ways to Say: Rare chance / Lucky opening

24. Lightning strikes twice

Meaning: Having the rare good luck to experience a great event a second time.

For Example: Winning the art contest two years in a row proved lightning strikes twice. / He guessed the mystery jar correctly twice, like lightning strikes twice.

Other Ways to Say: Rare double luck / Repeated fortune

25. Serendipity

Meaning: Finding valuable or pleasant things by pure accidental good luck.

For Example: Discovering the hidden trail behind the school was pure serendipity. / Meeting my old friend at the museum was a lovely bit of serendipity.

Other Ways to Say: Happy accident / Lucky find

26. Happy coincidence

Meaning: An accidental event that turns out to be extremely lucky.

For Example: Wearing matching green shirts to school was a happy coincidence. / Running into my teammate at the park was a happy coincidence.

Other Ways to Say: Serendipity / Lucky match

27. Playing with house money

Meaning: Being in a lucky position where you cannot lose anything.

For Example: After scoring three early points, our team felt like we were playing with house money. / Having extra time on the test meant I was playing with house money.

Other Ways to Say: Risk-free luck / Safe advantage

28. Fortune smiled

Meaning: When good luck comes your way unexpectedly.

For Example: Fortune smiled upon us when the lost cat walked back home. / When the teacher delayed the test, fortune smiled on our study group.

Other Ways to Say: Got lucky / Favored

29. Hit the motherlode

Meaning: To find a massive source of success, treasure, or good luck.

For Example: Opening the box of vintage comic books felt like hitting the motherlode. / The research team hit the motherlode when they found the historical map.

Other Ways to Say: Find treasure / Huge success

30. Seventh heaven

Meaning: A state of extreme happiness and good fortune.

For Example: Winning the art contest put her right up in seventh heaven. / He was in seventh heaven when he got to pet the friendly puppy.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely happy / Overjoyed

31. Smile upon you

Meaning: When fortune or luck favors what you are trying to do.

For Example: We hoped lady luck would smile upon us during the science fair. / The sunny weather smiled upon our outdoor field trip.

Other Ways to Say: Favor luck / Be fortunate

32. Fall into your lap

Meaning: To receive a reward or good fortune without having to work for it.

For Example: The prize money did not just fall into your lap, you earned it. / Sometimes wonderful opportunities fall into your lap unexpectedly.

Other Ways to Say: Easy gain / Lucky arrival

33. Horseshoe above the door

Meaning: A traditional sign hung up to bring good fortune to a home.

For Example: Grandma hung an iron horseshoe above the door for family luck. / The old farmhouse had a decorative horseshoe above the door.

Other Ways to Say: Good luck sign / Fortune symbol

34. Fortune favors the bold

Meaning: A saying meaning brave people often attract the best luck.

For Example: He decided to try out for the solo part because fortune favors the bold. / Entering the difficult art contest proved that fortune favors the bold.

Other Ways to Say: Bravery brings luck / Take risks

35. Make your own luck

Meaning: To work hard so good fortune comes your way.

For Example: Studying hard for tests helps you make your own luck. / Do not just wait for prizes; make your own luck through effort.

Other Ways to Say: Create success / Work hard

36. Good star shining down

Meaning: Feeling protected and guided by good luck.

For Example: Finding a parking spot right near the entrance felt like a good star shining down. / We felt like we had a good star shining down during the trip.

Other Ways to Say: Lucky guide / Fortunate sign

37. Fair winds and following seas

Meaning: A sailing blessing wishing someone good luck and safe travel.

For Example: The captain wished all the graduating students fair winds and following seas. / We waved goodbye to our cousins with fair winds and following seas.

Other Ways to Say: Good luck / Safe journey

38. Smooth sailing ahead

Meaning: A prediction of easy times and good fortune in the future.

For Example: Once we finished our history report, it was smooth sailing ahead. / The teacher said our project progress had smooth sailing ahead.

Other Ways to Say: Easy path / Good luck

39. Fall into a pot of honey

Meaning: An old idiom meaning to stumble into unexpected good fortune.

For Example: Finding extra allowance money in his old coat felt like falling into a pot of honey. / Getting chosen to lead the parade was like falling into a pot of honey.

Other Ways to Say: Unexpected luck / Great find

40. Right on the money

Meaning: Making a guess or choice that brings lucky success.

For Example: His prediction about the baseball score was right on the money. / Her answer to the riddle was right on the money.

Other Ways to Say: Spot on / Exact success

41. Born lucky

Meaning: A simple phrase for someone who always seems to have good fortune.

For Example: He found a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk because he is just born lucky. / Winning the raffle made her feel like she was born lucky.

Other Ways to Say: Fortunate / Lucky person

42. Touched by fortune

Meaning: Having a special quality that attracts good luck and success.

For Example: The young musician seemed touched by fortune when she won the audition. / Every game he played felt touched by fortune.

Other Ways to Say: Fortunate / Blessed

43. Blessed with luck

Meaning: Having an abundance of good fortune in life or games.

For Example: We felt blessed with luck when the rain stopped for our party. / She is blessed with luck when it comes to winning board games.

Other Ways to Say: Fortunate / Lucky

44. Smile of fortune

Meaning: A brief moment when luck is clearly on your side.

For Example: Winning the coin toss felt like receiving a smile of fortune. / He enjoyed the smile of fortune during the trivia contest.

Other Ways to Say: Lucky break / Good fortune

45. Win the lottery of life

Meaning: To experience incredible and rare good fortune in your circumstances.

For Example: Having such a supportive family and school feels like winning the lottery of life. / Finding a wonderful rescue dog felt like winning the lottery of life.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely fortunate / Great luck

46. Fortune’s favorite

Meaning: Someone who consistently experiences wonderful good luck.

For Example: He always finds the best parking spots, acting like fortune’s favorite. / Winning three prizes in a row made her feel like fortune’s favorite.

Other Ways to Say: Very lucky person / Fortunate soul

47. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth

Meaning: To be born into a wealthy family with lots of good fortune.

For Example: The character in the story seemed to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth. / You do not need to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to have a happy life.

Other Ways to Say: Very fortunate / Born lucky

48. Win hands down

Meaning: To achieve victory or good luck with very little effort.

For Example: Our class spelling team won hands down at the regional competition. / She won the board game hands down with her clever strategy.

Other Ways to Say: Win easily / Effortless success

49. Walk away with it

Meaning: To easily take home the prize or good fortune of a contest.

For Example: The fastest runner managed to walk away with the gold medal. / With all those correct answers, she walked away with the trivia prize.

Other Ways to Say: Win easily / Triumph

50. Sweep the board

Meaning: To win every single prize, game, or stroke of luck available.

For Example: Our school art team swept the board at the county fair. / He played so well in chess that he swept the board.

Other Ways to Say: Win everything / Total success

51. Hit the bullseye

Meaning: To experience precise good luck or accuracy in a goal.

For Example: His guess at the jellybean jar hit the bullseye. / Throwing the dart right into the center hit the bullseye.

Other Ways to Say: Perfect hit / Spot on

52. Riding high

Meaning: Enjoying a period of great success, popularity, and good fortune.

For Example: Our school debate team was riding high after winning the trophy. / He felt like he was riding high after his painting won an award.

Other Ways to Say: Successful / Thriving

53. Clear skies and good fortune

Meaning: A bright outlook filled with lucky opportunities.

For Example: The weather report promised clear skies and good fortune for the picnic. / Starting our new club brought clear skies and good fortune.

Other Ways to Say: Bright future / Lucky days

54. Star-crossed luck

Meaning: Sometimes used for unusual turns of fate, often lucky or unlucky.

For Example: Finding the exact missing puzzle piece under the rug felt like star-crossed luck. / Meeting on the same train was a bit of star-crossed luck.

Other Ways to Say: Fate / Lucky chance

55. Blessing in the air

Meaning: A light, positive feeling of approaching good fortune.

For Example: There was a blessing in the air on the morning of our festival. / The gentle breeze felt like a blessing in the air.

Other Ways to Say: Good feeling / Positive vibe

56. Weather the gale and win

Meaning: To survive a huge challenge and find great luck afterward.

For Example: The sailing team weathered the gale and won the race. / After weeks of tough tests, we weathered the gale and got rewards.

Other Ways to Say: Overcome / Succeed

57. Born under a lucky planet

Meaning: An expression for someone who always seems to have good fortune.

For Example: He found a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk like he was born under a lucky planet. / She always wins the raffle because she acts like she was born under a lucky planet.

Other Ways to Say: Very fortunate / Born lucky

58. Fall on your feet and smile

Meaning: To survive trouble and enjoy sudden good fortune.

For Example: Losing his ticket turned out fine because he fell on his feet and smiled. / She always falls on her feet and smiles after adventures.

Other Ways to Say: Be lucky / Recover happily

59. Seventh heaven of fortune

Meaning: Reaching the highest level of luck and happiness.

For Example: Finding his lost puppy sent him into the seventh heaven of fortune. / Winning the art award felt like the seventh heaven of fortune.

Other Ways to Say: Pure joy / Great luck

60. A charm

Meaning: An object that brings good luck and wards off bad fortune.

For Example: The silver star necklace acted like a charm during my piano recital. / Wearing his favorite hat worked like a charm for the game.

Other Ways to Say: Lucky item / Talisman

Exercise to Practice

1. The drama teacher smiled and told us to ________ a leg on stage.
2. My bicycle has never had a flat tire, ________ on wood.
3. We crossed our ________ while waiting to hear the results of the science fair.
4. When I found a rare comic book at the garage sale, I felt like I ________ gold.
5. Finding that rare baseball card in the old box felt like hitting the ________.
6. Our school soccer team scored three games in a row because they are on a ________.
7. Guessing the winning raffle number was a pure stroke of ________.
8. He won the bowling match on his first try, which was pure beginner’s ________.
9. I tried the new computer shortcut and it worked like a ________.
10. Riding our bicycles downhill with the ________ at our back felt amazing.
11. Discovering the hidden trail behind the school was pure ________.
12. Running into my teammate at the park was a happy ________.
13. Finding extra allowance money in his old coat felt like falling into a pot of ________.
14. Winning the art contest two years in a row proved lightning strikes ________.
15. Opening the box of vintage comic books felt like hitting the ________.

Answer Key

1. break
2. knock
3. fingers
4. struck
5. jackpot
6. roll
7. luck
8. luck
9. charm
10. wind
11. serendipity
12. coincidence
13. honey
14. twice
15. motherlode

Conclusion

Learning idioms about good luck helps you understand stories, celebrations, and everyday conversations much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to cheer on your friends and share positive wishes.

Try using a few of these expressions the next time someone you know is playing a big game or taking a test. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.