English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Twist of fate

Meaning

The idiom "twist of fate" refers to a surprising or unexpected turn of events that results in a favorable outcome for one person or group, while causing misfortune for another. It suggests that something unexpected has happened, and it may have been unforeseen or out of control.

Usage

Here are five examples of the idiom being used in different contexts:

  • "After years of struggling to find a job, John finally landed his dream job thanks to a twist of fate." - This sentence suggests that finding the job was unexpected and a good fortune for John.
  • "The company's profits soared after their rival went bankrupt due to a twist of fate." - This sentence implies that getting rid of their competition was a good luck for the company.
  • "I lost my wallet on the way to the airport, and it got stolen while I was waiting for my flight. Talk about a twist of fate!" - This sentence suggests that losing the wallet and having it stolen was an unfortunate event that happened out of control.
  • "The football game ended in a tie, but then the star player got injured, resulting in a twist of fate." - This sentence implies that getting injured was unexpected and caused the game to end differently than expected.
  • "When I won the lottery, I couldn't believe it was a twist of fate. I had never played before, but now I was millionaire!" - This sentence suggests that winning the lottery was unexpected and a good fortune for the person.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "twist of fate" is unclear, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. It is believed to be related to the idea of a "fate twist," which refers to a sudden change in events that was considered out of control. The meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent over time, with most definitions focusing on the idea of an unexpected and surprising turn of events. However, there may be regional variations or cultural differences in how the idiom is used or understood.

Synonyms in English

Here are three synonyms for "twist of fate" in English:

  • Break of luck
  • Turnaround
  • Luck of the draw

Synonyms in other languages

Here are five synonyms with translations and descriptions in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese:

  • Spanish: Suerte o la mala suerte (Good luck or bad luck)
  • French: L'événement (The event)
  • German: Das Zufall (Luck)
  • Italian: Il destino (Destiny)
  • Portuguese: A sorte (Luck)

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