Idioms are fun phrases that mean something different than the actual words inside them. People use them to add color to everyday conversations and share feelings in a clever way. Today, you are going to learn a wonderful collection of phrases that are all about wishing good luck.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for wishing good luck that mean hoping someone succeeds. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Wishing Good Luck
1. Break a leg
Meaning: This phrase is used to wish someone good luck before a performance or big event.
For Example: I told my sister to break a leg before she walked onto the stage. / The coach whispered break a leg to the team before the big game.
Other Ways to Say: Good luck / Do your best
2. Cross your fingers
Meaning: You say this or do this action to hope for a good result.
For Example: Let us cross our fingers that we win the prize. / I will cross my fingers for your test score tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Hope for the best / Pray for success
3. Knock on wood
Meaning: People say this or tap on wood to protect themselves from bad luck.
For Example: We have not missed a bus yet, knock on wood. / I hope to pass every class, knock on wood.
Other Ways to Say: Touch wood / Hope luck holds
4. Shoot for the stars
Meaning: This means to aim high and try to achieve great things.
For Example: Always shoot for the stars when you pick your career goals. / She decided to shoot for the stars and enter the national science fair.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
5. Catch a break
Meaning: This means to finally have some good luck after a hard time.
For Example: I hope you catch a break with your art project this week. / Everyone needs to catch a break once in a while.
Other Ways to Say: Get a lucky turn / Find some fortune
6. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: This means to have a sudden and very lucky success.
For Example: Finding that rare comic book at the yard sale was like hitting the jackpot. / I hope you hit the jackpot with your new business idea.
Other Ways to Say: Strike gold / Win big
7. Find a four-leaf clover
Meaning: This refers to finding a rare plant that is said to bring great luck.
For Example: Walking through the garden, it felt like trying to find a four-leaf clover. / May your day be as lucky as finding a four-leaf clover.
Other Ways to Say: Find rare luck / Discover a charm
8. Blow them away
Meaning: This means to impress someone so much that they are amazed.
For Example: Go out there and blow them away with your piano solo. / I know you will blow them away during your speech.
Other Ways to Say: Amaze the crowd / Wow the audience
9. Give it your all
Meaning: This means to try your absolute hardest to succeed.
For Example: Just give it your all on the running track today. / Give it your all during the spelling bee finals.
Other Ways to Say: Try your best / Put in full effort
10. May the wind be at your back
Meaning: This old saying means wishing someone an easy and successful journey.
For Example: As you set off on your big trip, may the wind be at your back. / The teacher told the graduating class, may the wind be at your back.
Other Ways to Say: Safe travels / Smooth sailing
11. Ride the wave of success
Meaning: This means to enjoy a period of good luck and positive results.
For Example: I hope you ride the wave of success after winning the match. / After her art show, she began to ride the wave of success.
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy the good streak / Keep the momentum going
12. Have the Midas touch
Meaning: This means that everything someone tries turns out successful and lucky.
For Example: Whatever business he starts, he seems to have the Midas touch. / I wish you the Midas touch on your new painting series.
Other Ways to Say: Be naturally lucky / Turn things to gold
13. Smooth sailing
Meaning: This means a situation will be easy and free of trouble.
For Example: I hope your new school year is smooth sailing from here on out. / Once we finish this tough hill, it will be smooth sailing home.
Other Ways to Say: Easy journey / Clear path
14. Keep your chin up
Meaning: This means to stay brave and hopeful when things are tough.
For Example: Keep your chin up, your lucky break is coming soon. / Even when things get hard, keep your chin up and smile.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful / Remain positive
15. Sail into the sunset
Meaning: This means to move toward a happy and peaceful future.
For Example: May you sail into the sunset with your amazing new job. / We hope your team manages to sail into the sunset with the trophy.
Other Ways to Say: Move to happiness / Find peaceful success
16. Catch the wind in your sails
Meaning: This means to get a sudden boost of energy or luck to help you move forward.
For Example: I hope you catch the wind in your sails for this final project. / That good news helped him catch the wind in his sails.
Other Ways to Say: Get a boost / Receive momentum
17. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: This means to take advantage of a good opportunity right away.
For Example: You have great luck right now, so strike while the iron is hot. / Apply for that club today and strike while the iron is hot.
Other Ways to Say: Seize the moment / Act fast
18. Reach for the moon
Meaning: This means to try to achieve something very grand and difficult.
For Example: Reach for the moon when you write your novel. / She always tells her students to reach for the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
19. Born under a lucky star
Meaning: This means someone is very fortunate throughout their life.
For Example: You must have been born under a lucky star to win that raffle. / He feels like he was born under a lucky star whenever he plays sports.
Other Ways to Say: Naturally fortunate / Deeply blessed
20. Fortune favors the bold
Meaning: This saying means that people who take brave risks often get good luck.
For Example: Go ahead and try out for the lead role, because fortune favors the bold. / Remember that fortune favors the bold when starting a new hobby.
Other Ways to Say: Bravery brings luck / Risk brings reward
21. May the odds be ever in your favor
Meaning: This is a dramatic way to wish someone success in a competition.
For Example: May the odds be ever in your favor during the chess tournament. / We whispered may the odds be ever in your favor before the quiz bowl.
Other Ways to Say: Good luck to you / Hope you win
22. Keep your fingers tightly wound
Meaning: This is a playful way of saying you are hoping very hard for a good outcome.
For Example: I will keep my fingers tightly wound during your spelling test. / Keep your fingers tightly wound for the science fair results.
Other Ways to Say: Hope very hard / Wish intensely
23. Catch a falling star
Meaning: This poetic phrase is used when hoping for something rare and wonderful to happen.
For Example: Trying to win that rare scholarship is like trying to catch a falling star. / I hope you catch a falling star with your creative writing entry.
Other Ways to Say: Grab rare luck / Catch a wonder
24. Step on the right foot
Meaning: This means to start a new event or day with good luck and positive energy.
For Example: I hope you step on the right foot on your first day of school. / Let us make sure we step on the right foot this morning.
Other Ways to Say: Start well / Begin positively
25. Ride your luck
Meaning: This means to keep taking advantage of a current streak of good fortune.
For Example: Since you won two games in a row, keep playing and ride your luck. / He decided to ride his luck and enter the regional contest.
Other Ways to Say: Use your streak / Keep going
26. Catch the golden ring
Meaning: This means to grab a rare and valuable opportunity for success.
For Example: Study hard so you can catch the golden ring of a great scholarship. / She managed to catch the golden ring with her audition.
Other Ways to Say: Seize the prize / Grab the chance
27. Weather the storm
Meaning: This means to get through a difficult time safely and successfully.
For Example: I know you can weather the storm of these difficult exams. / We will weather the storm together and find success.
Other Ways to Say: Pull through / Survive the trouble
28. Catch a lucky streak
Meaning: This means to have many good things happen in a row.
For Example: I hope you catch a lucky streak while playing the board game. / She is hoping to catch a lucky streak in her tennis matches.
Other Ways to Say: Have a good run / Enjoy consecutive wins
29. Find a pot of gold
Meaning: This means to find unexpected wealth or amazing good fortune.
For Example: Getting that surprise bonus felt like finding a pot of gold. / I hope your new job turns out to be a pot of gold.
Other Ways to Say: Find great treasure / Strike rich
30. Jump for joy
Meaning: This is what you do when good luck makes you extremely happy.
For Example: You will jump for joy when you see your test grade. / The team began to jump for joy after winning the match.
Other Ways to Say: Be ecstatic / Leap with happiness
31. Walk on air
Meaning: This means to feel wonderful and lucky because something great happened.
For Example: He has been walking on air ever since he won the art contest. / You will be walking on air once you get your bicycle.
Other Ways to Say: Feel weightless with joy / Be thrilled
32. Grin from ear to ear
Meaning: This means to smile very widely because of good news or good luck.
For Example: She had a grin from ear to ear when she heard she won. / May your success give you a grin from ear to ear today.
Other Ways to Say: Smile broadly / Beam with happiness
33. On cloud nine
Meaning: This means to feel extremely happy and fortunate.
For Example: I was on cloud nine when I heard my name called for the award. / May you be on cloud nine after your performance.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed / Extremely happy
34. Keep the wind in your sails
Meaning: This means to maintain your energy and good fortune.
For Example: Keep the wind in your sails as you finish your homework early. / I hope you keep the wind in your sails all week long.
Other Ways to Say: Keep going strong / Maintain momentum
35. Make a wish upon a star
Meaning: This means to hope deeply for a dream to come true.
For Example: Close your eyes and make a wish upon a star tonight. / She likes to make a wish upon a star before every big test.
Other Ways to Say: Dream a wish / Hope deeply
36. Touch the sky
Meaning: This means to feel like you have achieved the highest level of success.
For Example: With that grade, you must feel like you can touch the sky. / Go out there and touch the sky with your talent.
Other Ways to Say: Reach the peak / Soar high
37. Grab the brass ring
Meaning: This means to win a major prize or great success through effort and luck.
For Example: Take a deep breath and try to grab the brass ring today. / He reached out and managed to grab the brass ring in his career.
Other Ways to Say: Take the prize / Win big
38. Have the wind at your back
Meaning: This means to have things going easily and favorably for you.
For Example: With the wind at your back, you will finish the race in no time. / I hope you have the wind at your back during your presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Have things easy / Be supported by luck
39. Fall on your feet
Meaning: This means to land safely in a good situation after a risky time.
For Example: Even if you miss this shot, you always fall on your feet. / I trust that you will fall on your feet with your new project.
Other Ways to Say: Land safely / Recover well
40. Open doors
Meaning: This means to create new opportunities and good luck for the future.
For Example: Winning this science fair will open doors for your future. / I hope this competition helps open doors for you.
Other Ways to Say: Create chances / Provide opportunities
41. Bright horizons
Meaning: This refers to a future that looks very lucky, happy, and promising.
For Example: Wishing you bright horizons as you start middle school. / We see bright horizons ahead for your painting club.
Other Ways to Say: Promising future / Great days ahead
42. See the light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: This means to finally see hope or success after a long hard time.
For Example: Keep going with your studies, you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. / After weeks of practice, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Other Ways to Say: Find hope / See the end of hardship
43. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: This means to start fresh with a lucky and positive attitude.
For Example: Today is a great day to turn over a new leaf and study hard. / I hope you turn over a new leaf with your daily habits.
Other Ways to Say: Start fresh / Begin anew
44. Light a candle
Meaning: This is a traditional way people express a wish for good luck or hope.
For Example: Let us light a candle for your safe trip across the country. / She wanted to light a candle for her friend taking the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Send a wish / Hope sincerely
45. Keep your fingers crossed behind your back
Meaning: This is a playful way to wish someone extra secret luck.
For Example: I will keep my fingers crossed behind your back during the spelling bee. / Keep your fingers crossed behind your back for my audition.
Other Ways to Say: Wish extra luck / Hope silently
46. Root for success
Meaning: This means to deeply support someone and hope they win.
For Example: We are all here to root for success in your track race. / Root for success and do not let nerves get you down.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer them on / Support fully
47. Shoot for the moon
Meaning: This means to set your goals very high and hope for the best.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
For Example: Shoot for the moon when you design your science project. / He always encourages us to shoot for the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
48. Catch a lucky star
Meaning: This means to experience a sudden burst of good fortune.
For Example: Finding that lost ring felt like catching a lucky star. / I hope you catch a lucky star during the raffle draw.
Other Ways to Say: Find good fortune / Catch a break
49. Ride the crest of a wave
Meaning: This means to be at the very top of a lucky and successful period.
For Example: Right now, your team is riding the crest of a wave. / Enjoy riding the crest of a wave after your big win.
Other Ways to Say: Peak success / Enjoy the high point
50. Keep the faith
Meaning: This means to stay hopeful and believe that good things will happen.
For Example: Keep the faith, your lucky moment is just around the corner. / Even when the puzzle is hard, keep the faith.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful / Believe in yourself
51. Catch a favorable wind
Meaning: This means to get lucky help that makes your goals easier to reach.
For Example: With this great teacher, you have caught a favorable wind. / I hope you catch a favorable wind for your new club.
Other Ways to Say: Get helpful luck / Receive support
52. Hit the bullseye
Meaning: This means to have exact good luck and achieve your target perfectly.
For Example: Your guess on the trivia question hit the bullseye. / I hope your presentation hits the bullseye with the judges.
Other Ways to Say: Succeed perfectly / Hit the mark
53. Ride out the storm
Meaning: This means to survive a tough situation until good luck returns.
For Example: Just ride out the storm of these difficult test weeks. / We can ride out the storm together and win the prize.
Other Ways to Say: Weather it / Hang on
54. Land on your feet
Meaning: This means to safely survive a tricky situation and end up lucky.
For Example: Do not worry about the pop quiz, you always land on your feet. / She managed to land on your feet after the chaotic game.
Other Ways to Say: Recover safely / End up well
55. Smile upon you
Meaning: This means that luck or fortune is being kind to you.
For Example: I hope Lady Luck decides to smile upon you today. / May fortune smile upon you during the championship match.
Other Ways to Say: Be lucky / Receive favor
56. Chase your dreams
Meaning: This means to work hard to make your biggest wishes come true.
For Example: Never give up and always chase your dreams. / She chose to chase her dreams of becoming a writer.
Other Ways to Say: Follow goals / Pursue wishes
57. Catch the winning wave
Meaning: This means to join a successful and lucky trend.
For Example: Jump into the project now and catch the winning wave. / Our group managed to catch the winning wave in the science fair.
Other Ways to Say: Join the success / Catch the trend
58. Keep your luck rolling
Meaning: This means to keep up your good fortune through hard work and positive thinking.
For Example: You won the first round, now keep your luck rolling. / Let us keep your luck rolling into the finals.
Other Ways to Say: Maintain the streak / Keep winning
59. Find a lucky charm
Meaning: This means to discover something that gives you confidence and good fortune.
For Example: He brought his special pencil to use as a lucky charm. / I hope you find a lucky charm for your spelling test.
Other Ways to Say: Use a talisman / Find a keepsake
60. Sail into success
Meaning: This means to reach your goals smoothly and happily.
For Example: Study hard now so you can sail into success later. / We hope you sail into success with your art exhibition.
Other Ways to Say: Reach your goal / Succeed smoothly
Exercise to Practice
- I told my best friend to ________ before she went on stage for the school play.
- Let us ________ that our team wins the championship game today.
- We have not lost a single match this season, ________.
- Always ________ when you pick your career goals in class.
- I really hope you ________ with your art project this week.
- Finding that rare baseball card at the fair was like ________.
- Go out there and ________ with your amazing science presentation.
- Just ________ on the running track and do your absolute best.
- As you set off on your big trip to camp, ________.
- Keep your chin up because your ________ is coming soon.
- You must have been ________ to win that random school raffle.
- Go ahead and try out for the lead role, because ________.
- I will ________ during your spelling test this afternoon.
- Close your eyes and ________ tonight before you go to sleep.
- Never give up on your goals and always ________.
Answer Key
- break a leg
- cross your fingers
- knock on wood
- shoot for the stars
- catch a break
- hitting the jackpot
- blow them away
- give it your all
- may the wind be at your back
- lucky break
- born under a lucky star
- fortune favors the bold
- keep my fingers tightly wound
- make a wish upon a star
- chase your dreams
Conclusion
Learning idioms is a fantastic way to make your writing and speaking much more colorful and fun. These expressions help you share your hopes and good wishes with friends and family in creative ways.
Try using one of these fun phrases the next time a classmate or family member has a big test, game, or performance. You will brighten their day and make your own conversation much more exciting!
