English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

Idioms: Luck and Opportunity-1
from: 'draw the short straw'   to:  '(take) pot luck'

• draw the short straw
  • To "draw the short straw" means being be the unluckiest of a group of people, the person selected for the least enjoyable or the most unpleasant task (by drawing the shortest straw).
    "“Sorry Sam ! You drew the short straw, so you've got to clean the bathroom.”
    
    
• fall into one's lap
  • If something good falls into your lap, it happens to you without any effort on your part.
    "She's not making much effort to find work. Does she think a job is going to fall into her lap?"
    
    
• fat chance!
  • The expression fat chance is used to indicate that something is not very likely to happen.
    "The boss is thinking of me for the job? Fat chance!"
    
    
• free ride
  • Someone who gets a free ride benefits from a collective activity without participating in it.
    "Only those who share the work can share the benefits - nobody gets a free ride!"
    
    
• get a second bite at the cherry
  • This expression means that you get a second opportunity to do or try something.
    "He was eliminated in the semi-finals, but he'll get a second bite at the cherry next year."
    
    
• as it so happens / it (just) so happens
  • The expression ‘as it so happens’ or ‘it (just) so happens’ is used to introduce an unexpected or coincidental event, something that occurred by chance rather than deliberate action.
    "You want to buy a second-hand car for your son? As it so happens, I’m selling mine!”
    
    
• (on the) off-chance
  • If you do something on the off chance, you think there might be a slight possibility of success.
    "I went into the supermarket on the off chance that I would find a map."
    
    
• anyone's call
  • The expression anyone's call is used when the result of a contest or election is difficult to predict.
    "Who do you think will win?" "It's anyone's call."
    
    
• (on the) gravy train
  • If someone is on the gravy train, they have found an easy way to make money, one that requires little effort and is without risk.
    "Since the village has become fashionable, the owner charges for every photograph taken of his house - he's on the gravy train!"
    
    
• jump on the bandwagon
  • If a person or organisation jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to seize the opportunity and do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
    "When organic food became popular, certain stores were quick to jump on the bandwagon and promote it."
    
    
• (as) luck would have it
  • The expression ‘as luck would have it’ is used to indicate that something happened purely by chance, because of good or bad luck.
    "Because of roadworks the traffic was deviated, and as luck would have it, the route took him past his ex-wife’s house."
    
    
• (the) luck of the draw
  • To refer to something that happens as the luck of the draw means that it is the result of pure chance, with no possibility of choice.
    "The samples distributed varied in size and value; it was the luck of the draw."
    
    
• (the) luck of the Irish
  • This expression is used as a good-natured comment meaning to be extremely lucky or have good fortune.
    (Some suggest that the expression may be ironic since the Irish have had a tragic past.)
    "I can’t believe Jack won the contest ! He must have the luck of the Irish !"
    "Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you."
    
    
• (be on or have) a lucky streak
  • If you are on (or have) a lucky streak, you have a sequence of lucky wins in gambling or games.
    "I don’t often win, but I had a lucky streak and came away with enough to pay for my hotel room!"
    
    
• make hay while the sun shines
  • This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.
    "Successful athletes are advised to make hay while the sun shines."
    
    
• miss the boat
  • If you miss the boat, you fail to take advantage of an opportunity because you don't act quickly enough.
    "I managed to get my order through before the end of the special offer - but I nearly missed the boat!"
    
    
• more by accident than by design
  • Something which happens more by accident than (by) design is done without deliberate intention.
    "I became an interpreter more by accident than design; nobody else could speak the language of the refugees."
    
    
• murphy's law
  • Referring to Murphy's law expresses a sentiment of bad luck and the idea that if anything can go wrong, it will.
    "We've tried to prepare for every possible incident, but remember Murphy's law ...!"
    
    
• (be) on a roll
  • If someone is on a roll, they are experiencing a period of success or good luck which seems likely to continue.
    "Our team has won three games in a row. We’re on a roll!"
    
    
• (be) out of luck
  • If you are out of luck, you miss an opportunity or you are unfortunately unable to have or get what you want.
    *"We were out of luck! The show was sold out, so we couldn’t get tickets."
    
    
• play a waiting game
  • If you play a waiting game, you deliberately delay taking action in order to be able to act more effectively later.
    "The cat keeps its eye on the bird, carefully playing a waiting game."
    
    
• (take) pot luck
  • If you take pot luck, you accept whatever is available without knowing what it will be like.
    "We were so hungry we decided to take pot luck and stopped at the first restaurant we saw."