push one's luck

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

push one's luck (third-person singular simple present pushes one's luck, present participle pushing one's luck, simple past and past participle pushed one's luck)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To take an excessive risk or to attempt some task unlikely to succeed, especially after having already been unexpectedly lucky.
   • 1967 December 29, “Quick Cure for a Killer”, in Time:

     The jury had little choice but to free the killer. Sane enough at least not to push his luck, Sledge immediately left the state.

   • 2021, City Girl, tiffi (lyrics and music), “PACK IT UP BOY”, in C-GIRL, performed by tiffi:

     I don’t think I really treat you that special / Chase a pretty girl who actually gets you / Brutally honest and for that I applaud you (Skrrt, skrrt) / Boy just give it up, you’re really pushing your luck uh

Translations

Translations

• Czech: pokoušet štěstí impf
• Finnish: koettaa onneaan
• French: pousser sa chance (fr)
• Polish: igrać z losem impf
• Spanish: tanto va el cántaro a la fuente que al final se rompe (es), arriesgarse (es)

See also

• lucky streak
• push it
• when you're hot, you're hot