luck of the draw

An allusion to the random manner in which objects (such as playing cards, straws, or marbles) are distributed, drawn, or withdrawn (from a card deck, bag, or other container) in many games of chance (such as card games).

• "She got a big winner [ticket for a large prize]. It was the luck of the draw!"
• "She got a real dud. Well, that's the luck of the draw for you."
• "[A] dry ditch or moat . . . should have been constructed around towers in particularly exposed or vulnerable positions but in some cases it seems that they were selected by the luck of the draw."
• "[I]s it merely the luck of the draw that turns some novels into blockbusters and others of equal merit into also-rans?"
• "If you've never been a smoker and you develop lung cancer, how did you get it? Is it genetics, environment, radon, luck of the draw?"

• chance
• happenstance
• fortuity

• lucky dip
• lucky draw