Useful Expressions
Level: Elementary Intermediate Advanced
Being Lucky
Sometimes a small chance event or decision can make the difference between a happy ending and an utter disaster. For such situations, here are ten expressions that you can use to s
Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing
- It's a good thing (that)..
- It's just as well...
- Fortunately, / Luckily,
- As luck would have it...
- That was a stroke of luck.
- It's lucky...
- It's very/most fortunate (that)...
- That was a close thing / near miss
- It must be your lucky day!
- You lucky thing! / You jammy bastard!
How To Use These Phrases In Your English
- We use phrases 1 and 2 when something has prevented a disaster. We follow the phrases with a clause that describes the fortunate action or circumstance. They are both fairly informal.
- We use phrases 3 and 4 when we are retelling a story and they are followed by some aspect of the situation that prevented a disaster from happening.
- Phrase 5 is often used to react to a lucky story that somebody has told you. You can also use it to comment on your own good fortune at the time it occurs.
- We use phrases 5, 6 and 7 in a similar way to phrases 1, 2 and 3. For example 'It's lucky you weren't wearing your best clothes when you fell over'.
- We use phrase 8 when we have experienced a near disaster that was only just avoided.
- Phrases 9 and 10 are used to say that you think another person has been lucky. 'You jammy bastard' is very informal and only used with people who you know very well.