Cool MateBad luck vs Your luck's not that good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bad luck
Top 2,000 (common)
Your luck's not that good
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Bad luck
| Bad luck | Your luck's not that good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bæd lʌk//🇺🇸 //bæd lʌk// | 🇬🇧 //jʊə lʌks nɒt ðæt gʊd//🇺🇸 //jʊr lʌks nɑt ðæt ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | A situation where things go wrong unexpectedly. | Good luck doesn't happen often for you. |
| Example | It was just bad luck that I missed the bus this morning. | Don't get your hopes up; your luck's not that good when it comes to gambling. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | bring bad luck, have bad luck, bad luck charm, face bad luck, experience bad luck | good luck, bad luck, your luck, not good |
| Common mistakes | 'Bad luck' is often confused with 'bad fortune'; 'bad luck' is more informal., Some learners use it in a positive situation, but it only describes negative outcomes., It's incorrectly used to describe predictable failures; it refers to unexpected misfortunes. | Confusing with 'Your luck is not that good' (less colloquial)., Using in formal situations., Not understanding the tone, which is often sarcastic. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bad luck' to describe unfortunate situations. It can be used casually among friends but is understood in more formal contexts as well. | Used to express skepticism about someone's positive expectations. Best in casual conversations, not suitable for formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Bad luck vs Your luck's not that good
What's the difference between Bad luck and Your luck's not that good?
Bad luck: A situation where things go wrong unexpectedly. Your luck's not that good: Good luck doesn't happen often for you.
Which is more formal: Bad luck and Your luck's not that good?
Bad luck is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Bad luck: It was just bad luck that I missed the bus this morning. Your luck's not that good: Don't get your hopes up; your luck's not that good when it comes to gambling.
Can I use Bad luck and Your luck's not that good interchangeably?
Not always. Bad luck and Your luck's not that good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.