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Prepositions after adjectives

Unlucky in, unlucky for, or unlucky with?

Use unlucky in for an area of life, unlucky for when something causes bad results, and unlucky with for repeated problems involving people or things.

Quick answer

How do you use unlucky with prepositions?

Use unlucky in before an activity or area: unlucky in love. Use unlucky for when something has bad consequences for someone: the weather was unlucky for the event. Use unlucky with for repeated poor results involving objects, games, or people.

He has always been unlucky in love.
The storm was unlucky for local farmers.
She is unlucky with computers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
unlucky in + area or activity

Having poor luck in part of life

Use in before fields, activities, or experiences.

They have been unlucky in business lately.
I am usually unlucky in card games.
2
unlucky for + person or situation

Causing bad consequences

Use for when something is unfortunate for someone or something.

The injury was unlucky for the team.
It was unlucky for us that the train was cancelled.
3
unlucky with + thing or person

Having repeated problems

Use with before things, tools, or sometimes relationships.

He is unlucky with technology.
She has been unlucky with relationships for years.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
unlucky in
She is unlucky in love.
bad luck in an area of life
unlucky for
The delay was unlucky for passengers.
something unfortunate affects someone
unlucky with
He is unlucky with cars.
repeated bad experiences involving something
unlucky at
He is unlucky at cards.
possible but often overlaps with bad at depending on context

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using unlucky for an activity

Use in for fields or activities.

✕ She is unlucky for tennis. ✓ She is unlucky in tennis.

Confusing unlucky with bad at

Unlucky refers to chance, not lack of skill.

✕ He is unlucky with maths because he never studies. ✓ He is bad at maths because he never studies.

Using with for a general life area

Use in for broad experiences like love or business.

✕ They are unlucky with business. ✓ They are unlucky in business.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She has been unlucky ___ love.
2. The injury was unlucky ___ the goalkeeper.
3. He is unlucky ___ phones and keeps breaking them.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say unlucky in love?

Yes. It is a very common expression about romantic relationships.

What is the difference between unlucky with and unlucky in?

Unlucky in refers to a general area of life, while unlucky with often refers to repeated bad experiences involving specific things or people.

Is unlucky for used about people?

Yes. It often describes events that have negative effects on someone.

ubiquitous in, on, across, throughout or for? "ugly in", "ugly for" or "ugly of"? ultimate in, of, for, on or as? "unacceptable to", "unacceptable in" or "unacceptable for"? unaccounted for unaccustomed to or in? unacquainted with unaffected by, in, for or with? "unaffordable for" or "unaffordable to"? unanimous in, on, about, regarding or for? "unattractive to" or "unattractive for"? "unavailable for" or "unavailable to"?

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