PROBABILITY
& I D I O M
LUCK S
Roll the dice: Taking a chance or a risk, often with an uncertain outcome.
The luck of the draw: Depending on chance or luck, especially when it comes to selecting or
receiving something.
Play your cards right: Making the right decisions or taking the correct actions to achieve a
favorable outcome.
The ball is in your court: It's your turn to take action or make a decision that could affect the
outcome.
Hedge your bets: Minimizing risk by spreading your investments or efforts across different
options.
The luck of the Irish: Referring to exceptionally good luck, often associated with the Irish people.
Hit the jackpot: Experiencing a sudden and significant success or windfall, often in terms of luck
or financial gain.
Throw caution to the wind: Taking a risk without worrying about the potential consequences.
In the cards: Likely or expected to happen based on the current circumstances.
A shot in the dark: A guess or attempt that is not based on any real information, relying on luck
or chance.
Polish meaning:
1. Roll the dice: Rzucić kostką
2. The luck of the draw: Szczęście losu
3. Play your cards right: Grać swoimi kartami
4. The ball is in your court: Piłka jest po twojej stronie
boiska
5. Hedge your bets: Rozbijać stawki
6. The luck of the Irish: Szczęście Irlandczyka
7. Hit the jackpot: Trafić główną nagrodę
8. Throw caution to the wind: Rzucić ostrożność na wiatr
9. In the cards: Być przewidzianym (dosłownie: być w
kartach)
10. A shot in the dark: Strzał w ciemno
EXAMPLES IN SENTENCES
Despite the uncertainty, John decided to roll the dice and invest in the startup, hoping for a profitable outcome.
Winning the lottery is purely the luck of the draw; there's no way to predict who will be the fortunate winner.
If you play your cards right during the negotiation, you might secure a better deal for the company.
Now that you have all the information, the ball is in your court to choose the best course of action for the
project.
To hedge their bets, the investors diversified their portfolio, spreading their resources across various industries.
Winning the grand prize at the competition seemed to be the luck of the Irish for Sarah, who couldn't believe
her good fortune.
When Sarah's small business took off, it was as if she had hit the jackpot, experiencing unexpected success.
Realizing the importance of the project, Emily decided to throw caution to the wind and pursue it despite the
risks.
With the current market trends, it seems a significant economic downturn is in the cards for the upcoming year.
Submitting the proposal was a shot in the dark, but to everyone's surprise, it turned out to be exactly what the
client was looking for.
Exercise 1
Ex1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences by choosing the correct idiom from the list.
Despite the risks, James decided to ________________ and invest
his savings in the new cryptocurrency.
Winning the lottery is purely ____________________; you can't
predict who will get the jackpot.
If you ________________ during the negotiation, you might secure a
better deal for the team.
With all the information presented, the ________________ is in your
court to make the final decision.
Investors often ________________ by diversifying their portfolios to
minimize potential losses.
Exercise 2
Ex. 2: Match the Meaning
Match each idiom with its corresponding meaning.
Roll the dice
The luck of the draw
Play your cards right
The ball is in your court
Hedge your bets
A. Take the correct actions to achieve a favorable outcome.
B. Depending on chance or luck, especially when selecting or
receiving something.
C. Minimizing risk by spreading investments or efforts across
different options.
D. It's your turn to take action or make a decision that could
affect the outcome.
E. Taking a chance or a risk, often with an uncertain outcome.
Exercise 3
Ex. 3: Create Sentences
Come up with your own sentences using the idioms. Be creative and try to incorporate
different contexts.
Exercise 4
50
40
30
Ex. 4: Discuss and Share
Discuss with a partner or write about 20
a personal experience where one of these
idioms applies. Share how taking
10
a chance or relying on luck played a role in
the outcome.
0
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5
Ch
Decisions and Chances a r ac
Em ters
R y ily (E
:
a n )
(R
E: Hey Ryan, have you heard about that new business opportunity in the city? )
R: Yeah, I've heard some ______________. Are you considering getting involved?
E: Well, I'm thinking about it, but you know, it's like taking a ______________. I'm not sure how the market will respond.
R: True, making decisions always involves some ______________. But hey, sometimes you've got to ______________ to
reap the rewards.
E: That's what I'm thinking. I just hope it's not a ______________. I want to make informed decisions.
R: Smart move. It's essential to ______________ in situations like this. Have you done thorough research?
E: I'm working on it. I'm trying to ______________ a bit, considering different sectors.
R: Good strategy. It's like they say, don't put all your ______________. And if you ______________, even if one doesn't work
out, the others might compensate.
E: Exactly. I feel like ______________ might be on my side with this one.
R: Well, you never know. Sometimes, success feels like ______________. Just make sure you're well-prepared.
E: The ______________ is in my court now. I'll finalize my decision after weighing all the pros and cons.
R: Sounds like a plan. And remember, in the world of ______________, a certain level of uncertainty is always
______________.
E: True, true. Let's hope for the best.
Ch
Decisions and Chances a r ac
Al ters
e
Ta x (A
:
y l or )
A: Hey Taylor, have you heard about the new investment opportunity in the tech sector?
(T)
T: Yeah, I've heard some buzz about it. Are you thinking of getting involved?
A: Well, I'm considering it, but you know, it's like rolling the dice. I'm not sure how the market will respond.
T: True, investing always involves some risk. But hey, sometimes you've got to roll the dice to reap the
rewards.
A: That's what I'm thinking. I just hope it's not a shot in the dark. I want to make informed decisions.
T: Smart move. It's essential to play your cards right in situations like this. Have you done thorough research?
A: I'm working on it. I'm trying to hedge my bets by diversifying a bit, considering different sectors.
T: Good strategy. It's like they say, don't put all your eggs in one basket. And if you play your cards right, even if
one investment doesn't work out, the others might compensate.
A: Exactly. I feel like the luck of the Irish might be on my side with this one.
T: Well, you never know. Sometimes, success feels like hitting the jackpot. Just make sure you're well-
prepared.
A: The ball is in my court now. I'll finalize my decision after weighing all the pros and cons.
T: Sounds like a plan. And remember, in the world of investments, a certain level of uncertainty is always in the
cards.
A: True, true. Let's hope for the best.
Idioms quiz:
Probability and Luck
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom
from the given list.
Despite the risks, Sarah decided to ________________ and start her own business.
a) hedge her bets
b) roll the dice
c) play her cards right
Winning the lottery is often considered as ____________________; it's purely a matter
of chance.
a) the luck of the draw
b) hitting the jackpot
c) throwing caution to the wind
If you ________________ during the negotiation, you might secure a better deal for
your team.
a) play your cards right
b) hit the jackpot
c) take a shot in the dark
With all the information presented, the ________________ is in your court
to make the final decision.
a) luck of the Irish
b) ball is in your court
c) hedge your bets
Investors often ________________ by diversifying their portfolios to
minimize potential losses.
a) roll the dice
b) hedge their bets
c) hit the jackpot
Starting a new project involves risks, but if you ________________, the
rewards can be significant.
a) play your cards right
b) throw caution to the wind
c) hit the jackpot
The success of the marketing campaign is in your hands now; the
________________ to implement the strategies and drive results.
a) ball is in your court
b) luck of the draw
c) roll the dice
Despite the challenging circumstances, the team's perseverance felt
like ____________________, leading them to overcome obstacles.
a) playing their cards right
b) hitting the jackpot
c) the luck of the Irish
Submitting a proposal without knowing the client's preferences might
seem like ________________, but sometimes it pays off.
a) rolling the dice
b) hitting the jackpot
c) playing your cards right
With the economic indicators pointing in a certain direction, it seems a
recession is ________________ for the upcoming year.
a) in the cards
b) throwing caution to the wind
c) the luck of the draw
