Luck, Bad

Luck, Bad

albatross
killing it brings bad luck. [Br. Lit.: “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” in Norton, 597–610]
black cat
because of its demonic associations. [Animal Folklore: Jobes, 297]
black ox
sacrificed to Pluto; symbolic of calamity. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 790]
Candide
the hero and his relatives and friends stoically undergo an endless series of misfortunes. [Fr. Lit.: Candide]
dead man’s hand
two aces, two eights; hand Wild Bill Hickok held when murdered. [Am. Slang: Leach, 299]
eclipse
regarded as portent of misfortune. [World Folklore: Leach, 337]
Fawley, Jude
lost everything his heart desired. [Br. Lit.: Jude the Obscure]
Flying Dutchman
ominous spectral ship; seen in storms off Cape of Good Hope. [Marine Folklore: LLEI, I: 285]
Friday the 13th
regarded as unlucky day. [Western Folklore: Misc.]
Hope diamond
largest blue diamond known; believed to bring bad luck. [Western Culture: EB, V: 126]
Jonah
trying to escape God, brought tempest to sea. [O.T.: Jonah 1:4–12]
ladder
walking under one can bring only misfortune. [Western Folklore: Leach, 598]
mirror
the breaking of one brings seven years of bad luck. [Western Folklore: Cirlot, 211]
Mutt
compulsive gambler who always loses. [Comics: Berger, 48]
opal
unlucky stone; represents the Evil Eye. [Gem Symbolism: Kunz, 148, 320]
Plornish
disaster was his specialty. [Br. Lit.: Little Dorrit]
Ring of the Nibelungs
brought a curse on all who owned it. [Ger. Lit.: Benét, 860]
Seian Horse
ownership fatal. [Rom. Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 978]
shirt of Nessus
Centaur’s bloodied shirt; given to Heracles as gift by unsuspecting wife, it caused his death. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 708]
spilt salt
courts evil. [Rom. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 958; Ital. Art: “Last Supper”]
step on a crack
and break your mother’s back; advice to avoid walking on cracks in pavement. [Am. Folklore: Misc.]
thirteen
number attending Last Supper, including Judas; considered unlucky number. [Christian Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1075; Western Folklore: Misc.]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
"No, I think everything is different and then in the moment you can have more confidence, less confidence, good luck, bad luck, or whatever," Benitez said of Newcastle's questionable record in London.
Benitez Gunning for his first victory at Emirates; London's calling for the Magpies - and it is not a happy hunting ground
"No, I think everything is different, and then in the moment you can have more confidence, less confidence, good luck, bad luck, or whatever," Benitez said of Newcastle's questionable record in London.
Why is Newcastle's record in London so bad? Rafa thinks he's identified the root of the problem; Newcastle United travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal on Monday night, looking to end a run of 17 defeats in their last 23 visits to London
Only bad luck, bad decisions and bad company prevented him from realising his immense potential.
MELVIN IS STILL A BIG HITTER - OUTSIDE RING; BOXING
Deportation is interpreted as bad luck, bad behaviour or laziness rather than being regarded as a failing and deterrent as policy makers hope.
Maybritt Jill Alpes, Brokering High-Risk Migration and Illegality in West Africa: Abroad at any cost
He has endured more than his share of bad luck, bad breaks and bad shots in the majors.
Johnson takes 4-shot lead into the weekend Open: Johnson holds lead
Money-saver Skint Dad spent years fighting debt due to bad luck, bad decisions and trying to live beyond his means.
Blue Monday woes? My 6 biggest lessons from a year of being a skint dad; I was on the brink, with barely enough money to feed my family and [pounds sterling]40,000 in debt, when I decided to change. In the past year I've turned my life around -- this is what I've learnt
Ventura's side, toothless in the first leg, carved out enough opportunities in the San Siro but a combination of bad luck, bad finishing and inspired defending denied them.
ITALY AGONY AFTER ZERO AT SAN SIRO; ITALY 0 SWEDEN 0 QUALIFYING SWEDEN WIN 1-0 ON AGG 11.2017; Four-time winners fail to reach Russia
Ventura's side carved out enough chances in the San Siro but a combination of bad luck, bad finishing and inspired defending denied them.
FINALS INSULT FOR HERO GIGI; WORLD CUP 2018 PLAY-OFF DRAMAIt's end of the world as Swedes ruin big send-off
But bad luck, bad timing, other people's bad decisions or bad faith shrink her life down to the old house and the plot of land it stands on.
A Piece of the World
Operation Subsmash was put into action by Captain I McIntyre - but his efforts were beset by bad luck, bad timing and bad judgement.
Sinking of HMS Thetis off the Great Orme
could have added further but a combination luck, bad finishing goalkeeping kept to two.
DRIVING FORCE; Ibrox airman McCulloch powers in his 17th goal of the season as service recruits witness Gers' full-frontal assault on Blue Toon
He eventually wonders if "all the people I'd been spending so much time with lately online were sad, unfulfilled, lonely, and more than just a bit strange and if it was this and not just cards, good luck, bad luck, and winning and losing that bound us so closely together." But it takes a cross-country taxi ride to Vegas, a humiliating trip to England, and, finally, a threat from a butcher in Sweden before Frank really starts to wake up.
Pocket Kings

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