fate
What will happen to someone or something in the future, especially when it is seen as something that cannot be changed.
The fixed, often unknown course of events that will happen to a particular person, group, or thing and is thought not to be changeable.
The final end of someone or something, usually something bad, such as death, failure, or loss.
The final result or end that happens to a person or thing, especially when it is sad, serious, or unpleasant.
A special power that some people believe decides what will happen in life, which people cannot change.
A mysterious power or force that is believed to control what happens in people's lives and in the world, independent of their wishes or actions.
In old Greek and Roman stories, three special women gods called the Fates who decide when and how people live and die.
In Greek and Roman mythology, the three goddesses who control the length and events of human life, often referred to together as the Fates.
To decide what will happen to someone or something, in a way that seems impossible to change.
To determine or fix the future of a person or thing, especially in a way that seems unavoidable or controlled by a higher power.
- Base: fate
- Plural: fate, fates
- Base: fate
- 3rd Person Singular: fates
- Present Participle: fating
- Past: fated
a twist of fate
1unexpected change in events
An unexpected event that changes what happens in someone's life, often in a surprising or strange way.
- By a strange twist of fate, they met again years later in another country.
- A twist of fate turned his small idea into a huge business.
- The film begins with a twist of fate that brings the two main characters together.
as fate would have it
1it happened in a fated way
Used to say that something happened in a way that seems like it was planned by fate, not by people, often surprising or lucky.
- As fate would have it, they ended up sitting next to each other on the plane.
- As fate would have it, the rain stopped just before the outdoor concert began.
- As fate would have it, she got the last ticket to the show.
be fated to
1having a fixed, destined outcome
Used to say that something is sure to happen to someone and cannot be changed.
- The lovers seem fated to be together despite all the problems.
- In the story, the city is fated to fall.
- He felt he was fated to repeat his father's life.
it was fate
1say something was meant to happen
Used to say that something happened because it was meant to happen and could not have been avoided.
- When they bought the same rare book, they both said, "It was fate."
- He likes to say it was fate that he got that job.
- She lost her flight but met her future husband at the airport; she says it was fate.
leave it to fate
1let events decide the result
To stop trying to plan or control something and allow whatever happens to happen.
- They could not agree on a date, so they left it to fate and said they would meet if they ever crossed paths again.
- I'm not going to push this relationship; I'm just going to leave it to fate.
- When they lost their map, they decided to leave it to fate and walk in any direction.
meet your fate
1face your final, fixed end
To face the final result of your life or actions, often something serious like death or punishment.
- The hero returns to the city to meet his fate.
- He walked into the courtroom ready to meet his fate.
- In the last scene, the villain finally meets his fate.
seal someone's fate
1make a final outcome certain
To cause a final result for someone, usually something bad, so that it cannot be changed.
- The mistake in the last minute of the game sealed their fate.
- His angry words to the boss sealed his fate and he was fired the next day.
- The court's decision sealed her fate as a political exile.
the hand of fate
1fate seen as guiding force
A way of talking about fate as if it were a person or power that controls what happens.
- He liked to blame the hand of fate for his problems instead of his own choices.
- She felt the hand of fate guiding her toward that small town.
- The novelist often writes about the hand of fate changing ordinary lives.
tempt fate
1take a foolish or needless risk
To do something risky or careless that might cause bad luck or trouble, especially when you do not need to take that risk.
- We’ve had no delays so far, so let’s not tempt fate by changing the schedule now.
- He refused to drive in the snow again, saying he didn't want to tempt fate twice in one night.
- He knew he was tempting fate by driving home after drinking.
- Leaving your bag open on a busy train is just tempting fate.
- Announcing victory before the final result would be tempting fate.
- They were already late, so stopping for coffee felt like tempting fate.
a fate worse than death
1extremely bad imagined situation
A very bad situation that someone feels would be even worse than dying.
- For him, living without music would be a fate worse than death.
- For some prisoners, life in total isolation is a fate worse than death.
- She thought working for her ex-boss again would be a fate worse than death.
- He joked that going back to that job would be a fate worse than death.
- To her, losing her independence would be a fate worse than death.
a fate worse than death
2Something imagined to be worse than dying
A situation so bad that someone thinks dying would be better.
- For him, losing his freedom was a fate worse than death.
- She said working there would be a fate worse than death.