fluke

A good result that happens by chance and is unlikely to happen again.

• My first win was a fluke.
• Was that amazing shot skill or just a fluke?
• She won again, proving her earlier success was no fluke.

Similar words: lucky break, stroke of luck

Common phrases: a lucky fluke, by a fluke, just a fluke

A small flat worm that lives inside a person or animal and can cause disease.

• The sheep had liver flukes.
• Eating infected raw fish can spread flukes.
• The vet treated the cattle for fluke infection.

Similar words: trematode

Common phrases: liver fluke, blood fluke, fluke infection

One of the two flat parts at the end of a whale’s or dolphin’s tail.

• The whale raised one fluke.
• Its left fluke had a deep scar.
• We photographed the whale’s flukes before it dived.

Common phrases: tail fluke, whale fluke, injured fluke

A flat sea fish with both eyes on one side, often caught for food.

• We caught a fluke near the coast.
• The restaurant serves fresh fluke with lemon.
• Fluke lie on the sandy bottom waiting for prey.

Similar words: summer flounder

Common phrases: catch fluke, summer fluke, fluke fishing

A metal hook on a weapon attached to a long pole.

• The weapon had a curved fluke.
• A sharp fluke projected from the metal head.
• The soldier used the fluke to catch his opponent’s weapon.

Common phrases: sharpened fluke, steel fluke, curved fluke

To get a good result through luck rather than skill.

• I fluked a pass in chemistry.
• He somehow fluked a goal from halfway down the field.
• You cannot fluke your way through every exam.

How to use it: fluke something (We fluked a win against the strongest team.)

Similar words: luck into

Common phrases: fluke a win, fluke a pass, fluke a goal

To send a ball into a pocket by accident in a game such as snooker.

• She fluked a red into the corner pocket.
• I aimed for the blue but fluked the black.
• Did he fluke that ball, or was it planned?

How to use it: fluke something into something (He fluked the red into the middle pocket.)

Common phrases: fluke a red, fluke a ball, fluke the black