Language Focus

Catch a Break

Meaning

Have a lucky opportunity or relief from difficulty.

When to Use

When someone finally has good luck after a period of problems. Most often used in the negative with “can’t.”

Examples

Common Patterns

• catch a break + and + result
  I caught a break and found a cheap flight.
• can’t catch a break
  I just can’t catch a break this year.
• finally catch a break
  We finally caught a break when the rain stopped.

Lucky Break

Meaning

A lucky opportunity, usually unexpected.

When to Use

When someone succeeds because of timing or chance.

Examples

Common Patterns

• get a lucky break
• be someone’s lucky break
• the lucky break that + clause
  It was the lucky break that changed his career.

Short Dialogue

Slight contrast in use

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Related Expressions

Get a break - Similar to catch a break.

• Looks like you got a break, since your opponent had to forfeit.

• Every time I schedule a picnic, it rains; I just can't get a break. 

A stroke of luck - A sudden lucky moment.

• Finding that parking spot was a stroke of luck.

Hit the jackpot - A big success or sudden profit.

• We really hit the jackpot with our new ad campaign; sales have doubled this month.