Sometimes you can do everything right.
You prepare.
You perform well.
You give it your best.
But despite your best efforts, you don’t succeed.
Not because you made a mistake.
Not because the other team was better.
But because things just didn’t go your way.
In other words - you didn’t get the rub of the green.
Originally from golf, where a bad bounce could ruin a perfect shot, the phrase is a reminder that luck plays a part in sport, whether we like it or not.
In elite sport there are fine margins, and the smallest stroke of luck can decide the outcome. Whether you win or lose.
There is always an element of luck. And sometimes it’s not on your side.
Like when every referee decision goes against you, you might say:
“We are not getting the rub of the green”
You don’t alway need the rub of the green to win though.
Sometimes the better team simply wins.
They say that luck “balances out” over the course of a season
This week’s three tips:
SOMETHING TO AVOID 🫣
🤦🏻♀️ “I didn’t want to tempt the luck”
You might think “tentar la suerte”, but you can’t translate it directly.
✅ “I didn’t want to push my luck”
It would be more natural to say the above in English. Note that we use the possessive my luck, rather than the luck. Alternatively we could speak about tempting fate:
I don’t want to tempt fate. I’m not going to tell anyone until it’s confirmed
SOMETHING TO SOUND CONFIDENT 🧐
👔 Business expressions
“A lucky break”
A fortunate opportunity that changes your trajectory.
Her lucky break was landing that international client!
SOMETHING TO WATCH 👀
An inspiring story. Although he has a challenging accent.
NEXT STEP ➡️
LOOKING FOR MORE?🔎
Keep learning,
The Crystal Clear English Team
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