Popular English expressions about luck and chance

We all have moments when we need luck on our side — whether it's before a job interview or when making a big decision. There are quite a few phrases for these situations in English, and they come up often in daily conversation. Let's look at some common ones.

Strike gold

When someone "strikes gold," it means they've found something valuable or hit unexpected success. The phrase comes from actually finding gold, but these days we use it for any lucky discovery or achievement.

For instance:

"When they collaborated on the project, they didn't just succeed — they struck gold."

"The researcher struck gold when she discovered the missing link in her study."

"After years of trying, the company finally struck gold with its new product line."

Break a leg

Here's a strange one — in English, we wish performers good luck by telling them to "break a leg." It seems like an odd way to wish someone luck, but it's actually the standard phrase in theater and performances.

The saying comes from old theater traditions, where "breaking the leg line" meant stepping past the curtain and onto the stage. If you got to perform on stage, you got paid — so breaking the leg line was a sign of success.

For example:

"Break a leg at the performance tonight!"

"Before her big speech, her friends told her to break a leg."

"You have a big audition today — break a leg!"

The luck of the draw

When things are left entirely to chance — like drawing names from a hat or picking random numbers — that's what we call "the luck of the draw." Whatever happens is out of your control.

Some examples include:

"Getting that assignment was just the luck of the draw."

"Sometimes getting a good teacher is just the luck of the draw."

"In this game, winning is often the luck of the draw."

Press your luck

Sometimes (amazingly), good things keep happening, like winning several games in a row, and you might be tempted to try for more. That's what we call "pressing your luck." It's about taking bigger risks because you're feeling lucky, even though you might lose everything.

Here are some examples:

"I got away with being late, but I won't press my luck tomorrow."

"Despite the warnings, he pressed his luck by investing more."

"You already got a discount — don't press your luck by asking for free delivery too."

Roll the dice

We've all played board games where rolling the dice decides your next move. That's why we say "rolling the dice" when we take a risky chance. Just like in those games, you're taking an action without knowing if it'll work out well or badly — you just have to roll and see what happens. Will it be a six or a one?

For instance:

"Starting a new business is like rolling the dice, but it could pay off."

"She decided to roll the dice and move to a new city."

"We didn't have a plan, so we just rolled the dice and picked a restaurant."

Now you've got some natural ways to talk about luck in English — whether you're wishing someone well or taking a chance yourself.  

Want to see these phrases in action? Check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs video.