Ill — Luck

ILL LUCK definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

If you spill salt, many believe you must toss a pinch over your left shoulder to neutralize the ill luck.

Across cultures, people have developed "warning signs" to categorize and predict ill luck. Some of the most enduring include: ill luck

Finding a penny or a four-leaf clover is often seen as a direct antidote to a run of bad luck. Perspective: Is Luck Truly "Blind"?

Simple actions like walking under a ladder, stepping on a sidewalk crack, or even washing your hair on the day of a big test are often cited as ways to "invite" ill luck. Reclaiming Control: Warding Off the "Bad" ILL LUCK definition and meaning | Collins English

To counter these perceived threats, humanity has created a toolkit of counter-superstitions to protect good fortune:

A famous story of an old farmer whose horse ran away suggests that what we call "ill luck" might just be a single chapter in a longer story; yesterday’s misfortune (a broken leg) might be today's salvation (avoiding a military draft). Perspective: Is Luck Truly "Blind"

While we often use phrases like "as ill luck would have it" to describe random chance, experts and philosophers suggest that how we view luck is just as important as the events themselves.