Lucky charm
Meaning
An object believed to bring good fortune or protection to its owner.
Origin
The belief in objects holding mystical power to bring fortune or protection is as old as humanity itself, with amulets and talismans found in archaeological sites from ancient Egypt to prehistoric Europe. The English phrase 'lucky charm' became the popular shorthand for these treasured items, marrying the concept of 'luck'—a force of unpredictable fortune widely discussed since the Middle Ages—with 'charm.' Originally, a 'charm' was not an object but an incantation, a spoken spell derived from the Latin carmen, meaning 'song.' Over time, the word shifted to describe the magical object itself, the thing that held the enchantment. Thus, a 'lucky charm' became the tangible symbol of a hidden power, a little piece of hope you could carry in your pocket, stripping away the old mystical jargon for a term everyone could embrace.
Examples
- She always carries her grandmother's locket as a lucky charm before every big presentation.
- Many athletes have a specific ritual or item they consider their lucky charm for game day.