lightning never strikes twice
/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ ˌnevə ˌstraɪks ˈtwaɪs/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
the same bad luck is unlikely to happen again
Examples
- 1Our last camping trip was ruined by a broken tent, but lightning never strikes twice, so let's go again.
- 2Tom broke his arm skiing last winter, yet he's going back, convinced that lightning never strikes twice.
- 3Relax — your laptop crashed during your last presentation, but lightning never strikes twice.
- 4Do you really believe lightning never strikes twice? My flight has been cancelled two years running.
- 5We were burgled in May, and Mum insists lightning never strikes twice, yet she's bought an alarm anyway.
Grammar
A fixed saying, used as a complete clause, often after that. strikes stays in the present simple. A longer form adds in the same place before twice.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about weather
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →rain on your paradeto spoil a plan or a happy moment for someoneon thin icein a risky position where trouble could easily followblow hot and coldto keep changing your attitude towards somethingmake heavy weather ofto treat an easy task as more difficult than it isa fair-weather friendsomeone who is loyal only when things are going wellin the cold light of daylater, when you can think about something calmly
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
