← Back to Fala2Me

sheer luck

[/ʃɪr lʌk/]
noun phrase
pura sorte
1. Success or a favorable outcome that occurs by chance rather than through skill, planning, or effort
It was sheer luck that I found my lost keys in the couch.
Foi pura sorte que encontrei minhas chaves perdidas no sofá.
2. Complete or absolute luck with no other contributing factors
Getting that job was sheer luck; there were hundreds of applicants.
Conseguir aquele emprego foi pura sorte; havia centenas de candidatos.
NYC Slang
just dumb luck / lucky break
Synonyms
pure luckblind luckmere chanceplain luckdumb luckstroke of luck
Antonyms
skillplanningeffortdesignintention

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pura sorte
Most common and widely understood
Rio de Janeiro
pura sorte / mera sorte
Both expressions used interchangeably
São Paulo
pura sorte
Standard usage
Portugal
pura sorte / sorte à conta
Pura sorte is standard; sorte à conta also used

Related Idioms & Phrases

by the skin of one's teeth
a lucky break
the breaks
hit the jackpot
stroke of luck
chance occurrence
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →