Best of Luck!

Question

Does 'best of luck' sound good here and does it mean the same as 'good luck'?
I'm like millions of Americans who don't stay in one place for too long. So if you're a marketer trying to keep track of my whereabouts, best of luck!

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Does 'best of luck' sound good here and does it mean the same as 'good luck'? I'm like millions of Americans who don't stay in one place for too long. So if you're a marketer trying to keep track of my whereabouts, best of luck![/nq]
No. It means fat chance of keeping track of me. And, "fat chance" means slim chance.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Does 'best of luck' sound good here and does it mean the same as 'good luck'?[/nq]
Depends on how it's said sincerely, or with sarcasm.
[nq:1]I'm like millions of Americans who don't stay in one place for too long. So if you're a marketer trying to keep track of my whereabouts, best of luck![/nq]
In that circumstance, "lotsa luck" might be said by some people. It not the same as wishing someone good luck, but is more along the lines of saying "you won't have much (good) luck in keeping track of me."

Maria Conlon

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Does 'best of luck' sound good here and does it ... trying to keep track of my whereabouts, best of luck![/nq]
Yes to both questions.
[nq:1]No. It means fat chance of keeping track of me. And, "fat chance" means slim chance.[/nq]
But this is because "best of luck" and "fat chance" are both being used sarcastically. If "good luck" was used in the original sentence it would also be sarcastic this is established by the context so the meaning would still be the same as "best of luck".

In another sentence, "good luck" or "best of luck" could be used with their natural, non-sarcastic meanings, and they would also mean the same thing.
"Fat chance" is an interesting case, though, because it seems to only be used sarcastically. If you weren't being sarcastic you'd say there was a "good chance" or something like that.
Mark Brader, Toronto "It's the almost correct solutions that (Email Removed) are the most dangerous..." Dave Eisen

My text in this article is in the public domain.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Yes to both questions.[/nq]
I disagree with "Yes" for the second question because of context. The poster asked if "best of luck" means "good luck *in* the example sentence. I'm going to go with the assumption that the poster considers "good luck" to be a sincere wish for favorable results. The context indicates that favorable results are not in the offing, so the "best of luck" in this context is the same as saying "Your chances of keeping track of me are slim to none." There is no indication that the speaker wants the seeker to have favorable results, so no real luck is wished.
We ask posters to provide context when they as for the meaning of an idiom or term. This is a case where no context would result in an answer of "Best of luck" and "Good Luck" can mean the same thing or mean that good luck is not something to be expected. But, the poster gave us context, and the context indicates that the meaning is "fat chance", "slim chance" or "slim to none".

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I disagree with "Yes" for the second question because of context.[/nq]
So we agree as to the meaning of the phrase (and have explained it adequately), but disagree as to whether this requires a yes or no answer to the poster's question, because there are two ways to interpret the question. Interesting point. By now I think the original poster understands what he or she wanted to understand, anyway.
Mark Brader, Toronto > "Professor, I think I have a counterexample." (Email Removed) > "That's all right; I have two proofs."

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I disagree with "Yes" for the second question because of context.[/nq]
[nq:1]So we agree as to the meaning of the phrase (and have explained it adequately),[/nq]
Yes, we agree. I have chosen to reply to the usage in context, and you have chosen to reply to the usage in general.
[nq:1]but disagree as to whether this requires a yes or no answer to the poster's question, because there are two ways to interpret the question. Interesting point. By now I think the original poster understands what he or she wanted to understand, anyway.[/nq]
The poster probably got more than he or she bargained for. All those letters on the screen can be distilled down to "It depends".

Best of Luck!

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