Learn English – n expression or idiom for something convenient that happens right when you need it to

expressionsidioms

Especially if it's something unlikely. Almost as if it could only happen in a movie. For instance, you're about to be robbed and a random cop on patrol arrives at that exact time. What are the chances of that?

Is there an expression/idiom that communicates that general idea?

Best Answer

The first word that comes to mind is serendipity. Merriam-Webster says:

luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for

But as Robusto correctly points out, that word is mostly used for discoveries. A thesaurus points from there to fluke, defined by macmillan as:

something that happens unexpectedly because of an accident or good luck

An alternative option, as Brian Donovan points out, is the adjective fortuitous, as Merriam-Webster describes:

2 a : fortunate, lucky
b : coming or happening by a lucky chance

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