You're in luck//lucky.

0 For me, yes02br
00However, to be lucky can imply that the luck has lasted over a period of time.02br
00To be in luck applies to the moment.02br
00You're lucky - meaning generally02br
00You're in luck, (because) we have them in stock - meaning you are lucky NOW 0-

0I agree with opti, although there are exceptions. I knew an auto mechanic a few years ago who would always preface the bad news with, "You're lucky!" (He'd then go on to tell me how much worse - and more expensive - it could have been.)02br
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00I think "lucky" is often used this way (in a negative sense) for "momentary" luck. "You're lucky the gun wasn't loaded." "

0I want to emphasize Opti's comment about "in luck" meaning at the moment. You would say that only in reponse to a recently expressed need or desire.02br
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00I was hoping to have a chance to talk to you about the Acme project. // You're in luck - my 3 o'clock meeting just got cancelled.02br
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00My tooth really hurts. Can I get in to see the dentist t

0"You're lucky the cops didn't pick you up for drunk driving." It just occured to me that this might be considered an idiom. Perhaps someone can verify. It's really a special case. The "lucky" part is present tense, but the momentary luck applies to a (recent) past incident. In GG's "You're in luck" examples, the momentary incident is very much present tense.02br
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0 01blockquote

01cite10Avangi12cite10"You're lucky the cops didn't pick you up for drunk driving." 12blockquote

10I read this as being in the present tense because you are STILL lucky that the cops didn't pick you up for ........................02br
00I agree 'were lucky' is possible, but I think then the luck applies t