00:00
Support comes from WISE, the smart way to sendmoney around the world.
Your life is global. Your money should be too.Some providers promise no fees on overseas
transfers but extra costs often hide in bloatedexchange rates. Choose WISE. You can send money
overseas for education or spend in over 40currencies while traveling. Get the exchange
rate that you'd usually see on Google. Plus counton 24-7 customer support. Be smart. Get WISE.
Visit WISE.com. T's and C's apply.
Julia, did you see that? My first bowling ball andevery pin fell over.
That was impressive, Martin. Have you discovered ahidden talent or is it beginner's luck?
I was about to order a professional bowling shirt.
Perhaps wait for the second ball.
Welcome to Your English Toolbox. I am Martin herewith Julia and today we have
four idioms about luck. They continue lesson 14 ofour free idiom toolbox course.
First, let me tell you how we got here. Thebowling alley was fully booked but another
group cancelled just as I called. What a stroke ofluck! A stroke of luck
is an unexpected piece of good fortune. Somethinghelpful happens without being
part of your careful plan. Finding those last twoplaces was a stroke of luck.
You can have a stroke of luck or say thatsomething was a stroke of luck.
It describes a fortunate event, not somebody'swhole personality.
And my amazing first ball brings us to beginner'sluck.
That means unexpected success when you trysomething for the first time.
You won your first game perhaps because chancehelped you.
But calling it beginner's luck could sound as ifyou are dismissing my skill.
Exactly, so tone matters. You can use it playfullyabout yourself.
Maybe it was just beginner's luck. I will rememberthat if my next ball
goes into the gutter. Our third idiom describes amore
difficult situation, down on your luck. It meansgoing through a period of bad
fortune, often with money or work. For example, myneighbor lost some work
and has been down on his luck lately. That doesnot mean he is lazy or a bad
person. Use the phrase with care and sympathy, notas an insult.
It describes a period somebody is experiencing.Our final expression is the luck of the draw.
That means an outcome depends on chance, ratherthan a choice you control.
03:02
At our bowling evening, teams were chosen bypulling names from a bag.
I got the most experienced teammate purely throughthe luck of the draw.
The phrase does not have to describe a literaldraw.
But the situation must involve chance, not just aresult you dislike.
Let us check the differences.
A sold-out event suddenly has a spare ticket whenyou arrive.
What a stroke of...
Luck. You win your very first game, and joke thatchance helped you.
Beginner's luck. Someone has had a difficult fewmonths and cannot find steady work.
They have been down on their luck.
Finally, your seat is assigned randomly, and youget a wonderful view.
That is the luck of the draw.
Which expression fits something that has happenedto you?
Practice all four with Lesson 14 and the episoderesources on our website.
The link is in the description.
Now watch my second bowling ball.
Perhaps keep that professional shirt in theshopping basket for now.
