lose the lottery

/luːz ðə ˈlɒtəri/

phrase★Intermediate

◆ What It Really Means

to experience bad luck or disappointment

¶ Literal Meaning

to not win a lottery game

Literal Breakdown

loseto fail to win+the lotterya game of chance where prizes are awarded

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of not winning a lottery, symbolizing bad luck or disappointment.

◈ When to Use

A person might say 'I lost the lottery' after not getting a job they wanted, using the phrase to humorously express their disappointment.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase is often used in English-speaking cultures to express disappointment in a lighthearted way, comparing the situation to losing a lottery.

informal

to fail to win a lottery

I lost the lottery, so I didn't get the prize money.

The speaker did not win the lottery and thus did not receive any prize money.

💡

This phrase is often used humorously or ironically to express disappointment.

Synonyms

win the lotteryphrase

to succeed in winning a lottery

This phrase is often used to express disappointment in a lighthearted manner.

Derived from the literal meaning of losing a lottery game.

This phrase is commonly used in casual conversation to express disappointment or bad luck in a humorous way.

English Dictionary