A series of unfortunate events
Meaning
This phrase describes a succession of consecutive bad luck, problems, or mishaps.
Origin
While the idea of a succession of bad happenings is timeless, the phrase "A series of unfortunate events" was indelibly stamped into the public consciousness by the critically acclaimed children's book series of the same name, written by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. Beginning in 1999, these thirteen darkly humorous novels chronicled the lives of the orphaned Baudelaire children, who faced an unending and increasingly bizarre string of calamities and attempts on their fortune. The title itself became a widely recognized shorthand for any situation where one misfortune seems to inevitably lead to another, echoing the Baudelaire orphans' endless plight against their villainous pursuers and the world's indifference.
Examples
- After losing his keys, missing his bus, and spilling coffee on his shirt, Mark felt it truly was a series of unfortunate events.
- The company's stock decline, product recall, and CEO scandal amounted to a series of unfortunate events that jeopardized its future.