tough luck

noun

Bad luck.

“Your car broke down? Well, tough luck, you're due at work in 15 minutes. Better run.”

Similar
ill luckunluckadversenessadversitybad cessbad luckdisadventurehard luck
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Meanings

nountough luck (uncountable)
  1. idiomaticuncountableBad luck.

    Synonyms: ill luck, unluck, adverseness, adversity, bad cess, bad luck, disadventure, hard luck

interjection
  1. idiomaticBad luck (often an unsympathetic retort to someone who is suffering a misfortune).

    Your car broke down? Well, tough luck, you're due at work in 15 minutes. Better run.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounBad luck.

Similar
ill luckunluckadversenessadversitybad cessbad luckdisadventurehard luckill luckillfaremisadventuremischancemisfortunemishapmisluckunfortunatenessunluckunluckiness

More synonyms by meaning

nounan unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes

Similar
misfortunebad luckill luck
Broader
fortunedestinyfate
Also see
adversitybad luckcuhdearhard cheesehard lineshard luckill luckmischancemisfortunemishapmisluckpityshamestiff shitsucks to be youtough breaktough cookiestough shittough tittytough toodlestough tuchusunfortunatenessunluckunluckinessworse luck

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Polish a to pech, masz ci los
  • a to pechTranslations
  • masz ci losTranslations
  • masz babo placekTranslations
Spanish jodida suerte
  • jodida suerteTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

tough luck. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tough%20luck

MLA

“tough luck.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tough%20luck. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tough luck,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tough%20luck.

Source: tough luck on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.