fortune (redirected from tell fortune)

give a hostage to fortune (formal, formal)

if something gives a hostage to fortune, it may cause problems in the future. She could never be president because her journalistic work gives too many hostages to fortune.

See also: give, hostage

a hostage to fortune (formal)

if something is a hostage to fortune, it could be harmed by things that happen in the future. Inviting terrorists to take part in the talks has created a hostage to fortune.

See also: hostage

the slings and arrows (of outrageous fortune) (literary)

unpleasant things that happen to you that you cannot prevent. We all have to suffer the slings and arrows, so there's no point getting depressed when things go wrong.

See also: arrow, sling

a small fortune

a lot of money. Her hair ought to look good - she spends a small fortune on it.

See also: small

a soldier of fortune (literary)

someone who fights for any country or group that will pay him. A soldier of fortune in the service of both Christian and Muslim kings, he was constantly fighting from 1065.

See also: soldier

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slings and arrows

unpleasant, negative attacks. He was surprised by the slings and arrows directed at him by several economists.

Etymology: from the phrase “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” in Shakespeare's play “Hamlet”

See also: arrow, sling