# push one's luck

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/push-ones-luck
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To take an excessive risk or to attempt some task unlikely to succeed, especially after having already been unexpectedly lucky.

## Examples

- You have won twice today, but do not push your luck.
- He already arrived late twice this week, so he is pushing his luck by taking a long lunch break today.
- After narrowly escaping detection during the initial phase of the heist, the thief decided not to push his luck by returning to the scene of the crime.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.