Luck, Bad
Luck, Bad
albatrosskilling it brings bad luck. [Br. Lit.: “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” in Norton, 597–610]
because of its demonic associations. [Animal Folklore: Jobes, 297]
sacrificed to Pluto; symbolic of calamity. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 790]
the hero and his relatives and friends stoically undergo an endless series of misfortunes. [Fr. Lit.: Candide]
two aces, two eights; hand Wild Bill Hickok held when murdered. [Am. Slang: Leach, 299]
regarded as portent of misfortune. [World Folklore: Leach, 337]
lost everything his heart desired. [Br. Lit.: Jude the Obscure]
ominous spectral ship; seen in storms off Cape of Good Hope. [Marine Folklore: LLEI, I: 285]
regarded as unlucky day. [Western Folklore: Misc.]
largest blue diamond known; believed to bring bad luck. [Western Culture: EB, V: 126]
trying to escape God, brought tempest to sea. [O.T.: Jonah 1:4–12]
walking under one can bring only misfortune. [Western Folklore: Leach, 598]
the breaking of one brings seven years of bad luck. [Western Folklore: Cirlot, 211]
compulsive gambler who always loses. [Comics: Berger, 48]
unlucky stone; represents the Evil Eye. [Gem Symbolism: Kunz, 148, 320]
disaster was his specialty. [Br. Lit.: Little Dorrit]
brought a curse on all who owned it. [Ger. Lit.: Benét, 860]
ownership fatal. [Rom. Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 978]
Centaur’s bloodied shirt; given to Heracles as gift by unsuspecting wife, it caused his death. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 708]
courts evil. [Rom. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 958; Ital. Art: “Last Supper”]
and break your mother’s back; advice to avoid walking on cracks in pavement. [Am. Folklore: Misc.]
number attending Last Supper, including Judas; considered unlucky number. [Christian Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1075; Western Folklore: Misc.]