In the Language of the English: Lucked Out

What does ‘Lucked Out’ mean in English?..

In the Language of the English, ‘Lucked Out’ means: “Out of Luck”, “My Luck was Out” etc., or, a bad thing.

However, the Americans, who have different spellings and meanings to some words that the English use, have a totally opposite meaning in their language, and define it as ‘Great Luck’, ‘in Luck’, etc., or, a good thing.

An example of the use of ‘Lucked Out’:

English “Lucked Out”:

I bought a lottery ticket, but it didn’t win.

• • An English person might reply, you ‘lucked out’ then. Meaning you missed out on getting lucky.

American “Lucked Out”

I bought a lottery ticket, and it won!!.

• • An American person might reply, you ‘lucked out’ then. Meaning you got lucky.

The same answer but totally different meanings.

An example of the use of the term “lucked out”, from the book “The Affair” in the Jack Reacher series, by Lee Child.

The baby brother was no oil painting. He had lucked out with the genetic lottery. That was for damn sure. He was nothing like his sister. Nothing at all. He had fallen out of the ugly tree, and hit every branch. He had a head like a bowling ball, and eyes like the finger holes, and about as close together.

This meaning was that he didn’t have any luck in his appearance.

Lee Child is the pen name for James Dover Grant CBE, an English born author.

Confused by English?

• • Check the person’s Nationality, and which English version they use. English or American.

Many countries that base their language on the English, will use the same spellings and meanings as the English.  (Australia as one example.)

Those countries that have greater connection to America, will tend to use spellings and meanings that are similar to the Americans. (Philippines as one example.)