English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE

down on your luck: meaning and examples

down on your luck means experiencing a period of bad luck, often financially.

Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “down on your luck” and connect it to this meaning: experiencing a period of bad luck, often financially.

How to use “down on your luck”

Common mistake: Treat “down on your luck” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

Learn it in context

This expression belongs to Lesson 14, where you can compare it with other idioms about luck and practise it interactively.

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