Meaning & use
stars are aligned
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Meanings
phraseidiomfigurative
Used when circumstances come together in an unusually lucky way, so that something difficult becomes possible.
Grammar: Fixed with plural stars; the verb can change: the stars aligned, when the stars align.
Patterns
- when the stars align
- the stars are aligned for someone
We won the grant because the stars were aligned that week.
If the stars are aligned, we will finish before the deadline.
The stars aligned for the band when a famous host played their song.
phraseidiomspecialist
Used in astrology to say that planets are in positions thought to bring good or notable events.
Grammar: Literal, astrological use; the same words as the idiom but a different setting.
Patterns
- the stars are aligned for something
The astrologer said the stars were aligned for new beginnings.
She planned the ceremony for a day when the stars were aligned.
According to the chart, the stars are aligned for travel this month.
Common combinations
- when the stars align
- When the stars align, even a small shop can go viral.
- wait for the stars to align
- You cannot just wait for the stars to align.
- the stars finally aligned
- The stars finally aligned and we found the perfect flat.
- everything aligned
- Weather, timing and funding aligned in our favor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fall into place
- Fall into place is less mystical and stresses things becoming clear, while stars aligned stresses lucky timing.
- perfect storm
- Perfect storm usually means a bad combination of events, the opposite mood from stars aligned.
- luck
- Luck is general fortune, while stars aligned suggests several things coming together at once.
Opposites
Word family
- align verb
- to arrange in a line or bring into agreement
- alignment noun
- the arrangement in a line or agreement
- misaligned adjective
- not properly lined up
Commonly confused: stars are aligned or stars are a line?
stars are aligned vs stars are a line
The verb is align, a single word; a line is a noun and does not form the idiom.
Practice
We got the house, the job and the visa in one week. It felt as if the ___.
Choose one answer.
The idiom is the stars were aligned, meaning circumstances came together luckily. The other options do not form a recognized idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stars are aligned”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.