ill luck, ˈill-ˈluck
[ill a. 5 + luck n.]
Bad or unfavourable luck; bad fortune, misfortune.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 203 This good chaunce happed to kynge Edward, by the yll lucke of kynge Henry. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 120 Sir Iohn, we haue had ill lucke; wee could neuer meete. 1781 F. Burney Dairy 14 Sept., He..had a run of ill-luck. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsem. ix. (1809) 106 As ill luck would have it, the curb broke. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby iii. iv, Who always lamented his ill-luck. |
| attrib. 1634 Milton Comus 845 Helping all urchin-blasts, and ill-luck signs. |