A string of misfortunes
Meaning
A series of unfortunate events or bad luck that happen one after another.
Origin
The phrase hinges on the simple, visual metaphor of a "string" to denote a succession of items. Imagine beads on a necklace, or pearls strung together; each follows the next in a clear, unbroken sequence. Applying this imagery to abstract concepts like "misfortunes" or "bad luck" creates a vivid mental picture of one negative event quickly leading to another, forming a continuous chain of adversity. This metaphorical "string" emphasizes the relentless, connected nature of difficulties, rather than seeing them as isolated incidents, highlighting a prolonged and often overwhelming period of woe.
Examples
- After losing his job, his car broke down, beginning a string of misfortunes that tested his resilience.
- The team faced a string of misfortunes during the season, including key player injuries and unexpected losses.