The weekly column topic is Do you have a lucky item? this week, so today I’d like to share some ways of talking about luck in English. In Part 1, I’ll briefly introduce some lucky symbols and numbers in English as well as some nouns, adjectives, and verbs for talking about luck.

Lucky symbols and numbers

Some common lucky items in English include: rabbit foot, horseshoe, four-leaf clover, and penny (one cent coin). While rabbits’ feet have gone out of fashion (for obvious reasons) and some countries no longer produce pennies, horseshoes and four-leaf clovers remain common symbols of luck, appearing on slot machines in casinos and on lottery tickets, for example.

Some of these words also appear in longer phrases related to luck, such as the rhyme “Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck” or the (somewhat rude) slang “to have a horseshoe up one’s ass,” meaning “to be experiencing extremely good luck.” 

Different cultures typically have different lucky and unlucky numbers as well. In most English-speaking countries, 7 is a lucky number and 13 is an unlucky number. In many tall buildings, you will not find a button for floor 13 in the elevator - it will simply go from 12 to 14. The number 666 is also considered to be an unlucky or evil number as it is associated with the Devil.

Nouns, adjectives, and verbs for talking about luck

The nouns luck and fortune and their adjective forms, lucky and fortunate, are the most common words for describing the concept of luck, but you can also use blessing / blessed to describe luck that comes from divine protection or favour (the power of a god or spirit) and charm / charmed to describe luck that seems to come from magic. 

Ex. Luck had nothing to do with it!

Ex. I was fortunate enough to pass the test on my first try.

Ex. You are blessed to have such a wonderful family. 

Ex. I felt that I had a charmed life when I lived there.

Antonyms include bad luck, bad fortune, misfortune, and curse (nouns) as well as unlucky, unfortunate, and cursed (adjectives).  

Ex. You just got a bit unlucky - try again!

Ex. Don’t blame your misfortune on others.

Ex. After a series of unfortunate events, he couldn’t help feeling that he was cursed.

Verbs include to get (un)lucky, to have (good/bad) luck/fortune, to bring someone (good/bad) luck/fortune, and to bless/curse.

Ex. I’m going to buy a lottery ticket tonight. Maybe I’ll get lucky and win a million bucks!

Ex. Wow, you really have terrible luck! I’ve never seen someone lose that many times in a row!

Ex. I always wear this necklace that my mother gave me. It brings me good luck.

Ex. The priest blessed everyone who was in attendance.