thank one's lucky stars

/θˈaŋk wˈɒnz lˈʌki stˈɑːz/

/θˈæŋk wˈʌnz lˈʌki stˈɑːɹz/

[phrase]

to thank one's lucky stars

[PHRASE]

to feel really grateful, particularly because something dangerous or unpleasant did not happen

What is the origin of the idiom "thank one's lucky stars" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "thank one's lucky stars" can be traced back to the ancient belief in the influence of celestial bodies, such as stars and planets, on human affairs. In astrology and ancient cultures, stars were often associated with luck, destiny, and fortune. People believed that the positions of the stars at the time of their birth or during significant events could affect their fate. Over time, this belief evolved into the figurative expression "thank one's lucky stars," which is commonly used in personal conversations, especially when individuals feel relieved or appreciative of a lucky break or when they acknowledge that things could have turned out much worse.

Examples

1. If you think that dealing with credit card debt is bad, thank your lucky stars you’ve never dealt with a payday or car title lender.

2. Thank your lucky stars the holiday season has come and gone, because reading The Long Halloween on an important day of the year might send a shiver up your spine.

3. Thank my lucky stars.

4. On the flip side most will just shrug their shoulders and thank their lucky stars that anyone is prepared to build a car like this in this climate and just roll with it.