beginner's luck
Newcomer's unexpected success
Beginner's luck is unexpected success by someone new to an activity, especially when that success seems unearned or improbable: She won her first poker game—beginner's luck.
The phrase often carries a note of dismissal, suggesting the novice will soon regress to normal performance, or rueful acknowledgment that skill doesn't always prevail over chance.
Chance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
boon · kismet · providence · fate · fortune · charmed · miraculous · auspicious
Inexperienced newcomer
- newbieInexperienced person, informally
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
- fledglingInexperienced newcomer
amateur · tyro · apprentice · trainee · novitiate · learner · first-timer · newcomer
Disturb, topple, or shock
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
phenomenon · miracle · astonishment · unforeseen · unexpected · longshot · wildcard · outlier
First public performance
- kickoffOpening play in football
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
fluke
Chance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
blessing · boon · kismet · providence · fate · fortune · charmed · miraculous · auspicious · golden
rookie
Inexperienced newcomer
- newbieInexperienced person, informally
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
fledgling · amateur · tyro · apprentice · trainee · novitiate · learner · first-timer · newcomer · entrant
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
stunner · phenomenon · miracle · astonishment · unforeseen · unexpected · longshot · wildcard · outlier · aberration
premiere
First public performance
- kickoffOpening play in football
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- fortunefortune, fate, destiny, jinxed, chance
- luckgood fortune, misfortune, fortune smiles, fortune favors, charmed life
- superstitionssuperstition, superstitions, hexes, black cats, broken mirror
- humble responsesit was nothing, no big deal, happy to help, my pleasure, don't mention it
- gambling superstitionsgambler's fallacy, blowing on dice, hot streak, cold streak, hot hand
- superstitionblack cat, broken mirror, Friday the 13th, walking under ladder, evil eye
beginner's luckmastery
Complete skill or control
deliberate practice · expertise · skill · competence · proficiency
beginner's lucklearning curve
Rate of skill acquisition
baptism by fire · rocky beginning · paying one's dues · school of hard knocks · trial and error
luck, lucky, beginning, begun, beginner, unlucky, luckily, begins, beginners