lucky

luck‧y S2 W3 /ˈlʌki/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative luckier, superlative luckiest)
[Word Family: adjective: ↑lucky ≠ ↑unlucky, ↑luckless; noun: ↑luck; adverb: ↑luckily ≠ ↑unluckily]
1. having good luck SYN fortunate OPP unlucky
be lucky to do/be something
The children were lucky to survive the fire which destroyed their home.
lucky enough to do something
those of us lucky enough to own our own homes
lucky if
I’ll be lucky if I get any of my money back.
lucky (that)
I was tremendously lucky that I didn’t die in the accident.
lucky with
We’ve been very lucky with the weather.
count/consider/think yourself lucky
Count yourself lucky you’ve got a husband like Jack.
get lucky (=be lucky on a particular occasion)
You might get lucky and find a bargain.
2. resulting from good luck:
I didn’t really know your name – it was just a lucky guess.
A middle-aged woman had a lucky escape when a tree crashed down onto her car.
it is lucky (that)
It’s lucky that no-one was hurt.
3. bringing good luck:
a lucky charm
4. lucky you/me etc spoken used to say that someone is fortunate to be able to do something:
‘My husband’s a rich man, and devoted to me.’ ‘Lucky you.’
5. be sb’s lucky day spoken used to say that something good and often unexpected will happen to someone:
We’re going to win. I just know it’s our lucky day
6. you’ll/you’d be lucky! spoken used to tell someone that what they want probably will not happen:
‘£50 should be enough.’ ‘You’ll be lucky!’
7. I/you should be so lucky! spoken used to tell someone that what they want is not likely to happen, especially because it is unreasonable:
You want three weeks holiday? You should be so lucky!
⇨ strike it lucky at ↑strike¹(19), ⇨ thank your lucky stars at ↑thank(3), ⇨ third time lucky at ↑third¹(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ feel lucky I feel so incredibly lucky to have had that experience.
▪ get lucky informal (=be lucky) They’re not a great team - they just got lucky.
▪ count/consider/think yourself lucky (=believe that you are lucky in a particular situation) You should count yourself lucky you weren’t seriously hurt.
▪ strike (it) lucky informal (=be lucky) I applied for twenty jobs before I struck lucky.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lucky

lucky [lucky luckier luckiest] [ˈlʌki] [ˈlʌki] adjective (luck·ier, lucki·est)
1. having good luck
Syn: fortunate
• ~ (to do sth) His friend was killed and he knows he is lucky to be alive.
• She was lucky enough to be chosen for the team.
• ~ (that…) You were lucky (that) you spotted the danger in time.
• You can think yourself lucky you didn't get mugged.
• She counted herself lucky that she still had a job.
• Mark is one of the lucky ones — he at least has somewhere to sleep.

• the lucky winners

2. ~ (for sb) (that…) being the result of good luck
• It was lucky for us that we were able to go.
• That was the luckiest escape of my life.

• a lucky guess

3. bringing good luck
• a lucky charm
more at strike (it) lucky at strike _v., thank your lucky stars at thank, third time lucky at third
Idioms: lucky you/me ▪ you should be so lucky ▪ you'll be lucky
Derived Word: luckily
Thesaurus:
lucky adj.
1.
• Sam knew he was lucky to be alive.
fortunate • • in luck •
Opp: unlucky
lucky/fortunate that…
lucky/fortunate to do sth
feel/consider yourself/count yourself/think yourself lucky/fortunate
2.
• It was lucky for us that he didn't see us.
fortunate • • happy • • timely •
Opp: unlucky
lucky/fortunate/timely for sb/sth
lucky/fortunate/timely that…
a lucky/fortunate/happy coincidence/chance
Example Bank:
• It was lucky for you that no one saw you.
• She hopes that some day she'll get lucky and win the jackpot.
• She is incredibly lucky to be alive.
• That was just plain lucky.
• We certainly struck it lucky with the weather.
• We've been pretty lucky so far.
• A lucky find on the edge of the Cotswolds is helping archaeologists discover what life was like in Roman Britain.
• I didn't know he was there— it was just a lucky guess.

• It was lucky for us that he didn't see us.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

lucky / ˈlʌk.i / adjective

A2 having good things happen to you by chance:

"I'm going on holiday." "Lucky you!"

The lucky winner will be able to choose from three different holidays.

[ + to infinitive ] They're lucky to have such a nice office to work in.

He's lucky that he wasn't fired.

It sounds as if you had a lucky escape (= by good chance you were able to avoid something dangerous or unpleasant) .

We'll be lucky if we get there by midnight at this rate (= we might get there by midnight or it might be later) .

B1 bringing good luck:

a lucky charm

Six is my lucky number.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

lucky

[lʌ̱ki]
luckier, luckiest
1) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ to-inf You say that someone is lucky when they have something that is very desirable or when they are in a very desirable situation.
  I am luckier than most. I have a job...
  I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth...
  He is incredibly lucky to be alive...
  Those who are lucky enough to be wealthy have a duty to give to the hungry.
  Syn:
  fortunate
2) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is lucky seems to always have good luck.
  Some people are born lucky aren't they?...
  He had always been lucky at cards.
3) ADJ-GRADED If you describe an action or experience as lucky, you mean that it was good or successful, and that it happened by chance and not as a result of planning or preparation.
  They admit they are now desperate for a lucky break...
  He was lucky that it was only a can of beer that knocked him on the head.
4) ADJ: usu ADJ n A lucky object is something that people believe helps them to be successful.
  He did not have on his other lucky charm, a pair of green socks.
5) → See also happy-go-lucky
6) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR if, PHR to-inf If you say that someone will be lucky to do or get something, you mean that they are very unlikely to do or get it, and will definitely not do or get any more than that.
  You'll be lucky if you get any breakfast...
  Those remaining in work will be lucky to get the smallest of pay increases...
  You'll be lucky to have change out of ₤750.
7) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR to-inf/that If you say that someone can count themselves lucky, you mean that the situation they are in or the thing that has happened to them is better than it might have been or than they might have expected.
  She counted herself lucky to get a job in one of Edinburgh's department stores...
  At the end of two days, you may count yourself lucky that you don't have to live here.
8) CONVENTION You can use lucky in expressions such as `Lucky you' and `Lucky devil' when you are slightly jealous of someone else's good luck or success, or surprised at it. [INFORMAL]
  `The thing about Mr Kemp is that he always treats me like a lady.' - `Lucky old you.'
9) PHRASE: V inflects If you strike lucky or strike it lucky, you have some good luck. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]
  You may strike lucky and find a sympathetic and helpful clerk, but, there again, you might not.
10) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that it is third time lucky for someone, you mean that they have tried to do a particular thing twice before and that this time they will succeed.
  I've had two runners-up medals with Monaco and AC Milan, but I hope it will be third time lucky and I get a winners' medal with Rangers.
11) to thank one's lucky stars → see star

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lucky

lucky /ˈlʌki/ adj luck·i·er; -est
1 : having good luck : fortunate
• We're lucky that things turned out as well as they did.
• You're lucky to have a choice. = You're lucky that you have a choice.
• I feel lucky to be alive.
• I count/consider myself lucky to know you.
• Aren't you the lucky one! [=you are a lucky person]
• “I managed to get a ticket!” “Lucky you! They were all sold out by the time I got there.”
• Tickets were available only for the lucky few.
• The lucky winner will be given a brand new car.
• I know you'll enjoy the show if you're lucky enough to get a ticket.
• Congratulations on getting the job, you lucky dog/devil.
• (chiefly US) He's a lucky stiff. [=he's very lucky]
• He was always lucky in love. [=he was always lucky in his romantic relationships]
2 : producing a good result by chance : resulting from good luck
• He scored a goal on a lucky shot.
• Their meeting was a lucky accident.
• We got a lucky break.
• It was a lucky coincidence that we were both there at the same time.
• a lucky find/guess
• It's lucky for us that the weather is so good. = We're lucky that the weather is so good.
• a lucky coin/charm
• This must be your lucky day. [=a day when something good happens because of good luck]
• You should thank your lucky stars [=you should be very grateful] that you have a friend like her.
get lucky
1 : to have good luck : to succeed because of good luck
• We thought all the tickets might have already been sold, but we got lucky—there were still a few left when we arrived.
2 informal : to succeed in finding or getting someone to have sex with you
• He's hoping to get lucky tonight.
third time lucky
- see ¹third