How to use "dependent on luck"

What Does "dependent on luck" Mean?

• The expression "dependent on luck" signifies that the outcome or success of something relies heavily on chance or fortune, rather than skill, effort, or other controllable factors. It implies a lack of certainty and a vulnerability to unpredictable circumstances.
• The meaning is compositional. Each word contributes its individual meaning to the overall sense of the phrase. "Dependent" indicates reliance, and "luck" refers to chance or fortune.
• The register is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to Use It

• The grammatical pattern is: adjective + preposition + noun.
• Typical objects are things that can be affected by chance, such as: success, outcome, result, winning, finding something, getting a good deal.
• The preposition "on" is crucial and cannot be omitted or replaced. The adjective "dependent" must be followed by "on" to correctly convey the meaning of reliance or contingency.
• It sounds unnatural to say "dependent of luck," "dependent with luck," or "dependent by luck." Using a different adjective, such as "reliant," would also change the meaning.

Real-World Examples

"Seeing the northern lights is a truly unforgettable travel experience, but one that is largely dependent on luck." — The Guardian - Travel

"Since whether one receives this training is at least to some extent beyond one's control, one's ability to live a virtuous life is deeply dependent on luck." — SEP

"To what extent is ITV becoming a company less dependent on luck and economic cycles it can do nothing about?" — The Guardian

"Looking back, I can make some sense of it, but at the time my life was all very makeshift and provisional, more dependent on luck than on planning or intent." — The New Yorker

"After a long, hard fight, his parental rights were terminated, but I came away from that convinced that my protection shouldn't have been dependent on luck, but on the law"." — Vice

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/dependent+on+luck

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
subject to chance	Implies vulnerability to random events; more formal.
rely on chance	Similar meaning, but uses a verb instead of an adjective.
hinge on fortune	Emphasizes that the outcome swings based on good luck.
at the mercy of luck	Highlights the powerlessness in the face of chance.
down to luck	More informal and conversational way of expressing the same idea.
a matter of luck	Emphasizes that luck is the primary determining factor.
governed by luck	Suggests that luck is the controlling force.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong preposition: Saying "dependent of luck" or "dependent with luck" is incorrect. The correct preposition is "on."
• Omitting the preposition: Saying "dependent luck" sounds incomplete and grammatically incorrect.
• Incorrect verb choice: While similar in meaning, using a different verb like "rely" requires a different grammatical structure (e.g., "rely on luck").

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
dependent on luck	Reliant on chance or fortune rather than skill or effort.	adjective + preposition + noun	Neutral

FAQs

Can the words in "dependent on luck" be separated?

No, the words generally should not be separated by other words to maintain the intended meaning. While you can insert adverbs to modify the adjective (e.g., "highly dependent on luck"), breaking up the core phrase can sound awkward or change the meaning.

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How is "dependent on luck" different from "relying on luck"?

"Dependent on luck" and "relying on luck" are very similar in meaning. The main difference is grammatical: "dependent" is an adjective, while "relying" is a verb. Therefore, you'd say "The outcome is dependent on luck" versus "We are relying on luck for the outcome".

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What's the correct preposition to use with "dependent" when talking about luck?

The correct preposition to use with the adjective "dependent" in this context is "on". It is grammatically incorrect to say "dependent of luck" or use any other preposition. The phrase is always dependent on luck to convey the meaning of reliance on chance.