IDIOMS AND PPCs

safe bet

Something that is likely to happen or succeed

know/say for certain

To be completely sure about something

make certain

To ensure that something is done

a certain (amount of sth)

A particular but unspecified amount of something

take a chance (on)

To take a risk in the hope of success

leave to chance

To allow something to happen randomly or without planning

by chance

Accidentally or unexpectedly

by any chance

Possibly (used in questions)

second chance

An opportunity to do something after failing at the first attempt

pure/sheer chance

Something that happens by luck rather than planning

there's every/no chance that

It is very likely/unlikely that something will happen

by dint of

By means of; because of

waste disposal

The process of getting rid of waste

at sb's disposal

Available for someone to use; at someone's command

at the disposal of

Available to be used by someone or something

push your luck

To take a risk by doing something that could cause problems or failure

trust to luck

To rely on good fortune rather than on skill or effort

bring you luck

To cause good things to happen to you

the luck of the draw

The outcome of chance rather than something one can control

a stroke/piece of luck

A single instance of good fortune

as luck would have it

By good or bad fortune; fortunately or unfortunately

in luck

Having good luck or being fortunate at the moment

with my luck

Used to say you hope something will happen

natural causes

Death caused by aging or disease, not by accident or violence

natural ability

An innate talent or skill that a person is born with

natural resources

Materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain

natural disaster

A natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great damage or loss of life

natural selection

The process by which organisms better adapted in their environment survive and produce more offspring

the nature of

The inherent or essential qualities of something

by nature

Inherent in one's character or constitution; naturally

in nature

Existing in or derived from nature; not made by humans

Mother Nature

A personification of nature's forces and processes

human nature

The general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behaviors of humankind

second nature

A habit or characteristic so deeply ingrained as to appear automatic

the odds of doing

The chances or likelihood of something happening

the odds are (that)

It is likely that something will happen

the odds are in favor of/against

The probability is in favor of or against something happening

against all the odds

Despite very low chances; overcoming great difficulties

rain hard/heavily

To rain with a lot of water falling

pour with rain

To rain very heavily

heavy/light rain

A large/small amount of rainfall

caught in the rain

To be outside and unable to find shelter when it starts raining

find yourself (doing)

To realize that you are in a particular situation or doing a particular activity without having planned it

find sb doing

To discover someone in the act of doing something

find sth difficult/interesting

To think that something is difficult or interesting

find your way

To manage to get to a place or to learn how to do something

lucky charm

An object that is believed to bring good luck

pot luck

A situation in which you take a chance on whatever is available