The catalogue of mishaps extends to being splashed by passing cars, losing competitions, and encountering missing packages in the mail. Curiously, five percent attribute their misfortunes to missing their stop while commuting on public transportation.
Contrary to expectations, 26 percent of respondents have evaded the dreaded encounter of bird droppings, yet a surprising 37 percent express a willingness to embrace it as a harbinger of good fortune.
Despite these tales of woe, 45 percent dismiss the notion that "bad luck comes in threes." On average, adults recount enduring a remarkable 543 unlucky events annually, with a third reporting recent encounters with misfortune within the past week alone.
A spokesperson for Lottoland.co.uk, the entity behind the survey, remarks, "It’s surprising to see so many people in the U.K. consider themselves unlucky. Although we’re a very pragmatic nation by nature, there certainly seems to be a fair amount of superstition still in us – especially when it comes to things like breaking mirrors, stepping over grates and under ladders."
The study also unveils prevailing beliefs regarding luck, with 41 percent attributing luck to self-made circumstances. Yet, certain actions like breaking mirrors, walking under ladders, and opening umbrellas indoors remain widely perceived as precursors to misfortune. Superstitions such as placing shoes on tables and the dread of Friday the 13th continue to hold sway.
Conversely, discovering a penny or a four-leaf clover is hailed as auspicious, while individuals born in a leap year are believed to possess an innate dose of good luck.
The data from OnePoll further highlights the sentiment that one in 10 individuals perceive increased luck during a leap year.
"It’s interesting to see the leap year is still a lucky omen for so many. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for jackpot winners this Feb. 29th," adds the spokesperson for Lottoland.co.uk. "And for those people who believe the leap year brings good luck all year round, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for good things in 2024."
Top 30 Unluckiest Events:
- Losing things
- Stepping in dog poop
- Spilling food or drink down clean clothing
- Traffic lights always turn red when you approach them
- Getting a flat tire
- Being splashed by a car going through a puddle while walking
- Losing competitions
- Tripping in public
- The item you really wanted on a food menu being unavailable
- Getting caught in the rain without an umbrella
- Missing a package delivery
- Someone else parking in a space you were driving towards
- Getting the wrong numbers on scratch cards
- Spilling toothpaste down your clothes
- A stranger sitting next to you on public transport when there are free seats
- Accidentally touching wet paint
- Breaking a mirror
- Stepping on a loose paving slab causing water to splash up
- Sitting down on a wet seat without realizing
- Dropping a long-awaited meal on the floor
- Paper jamming in a printer
- Missing the trash can when trying to throw something out
- Stepping on chewing gum
- Receiving the incorrect order when online shopping
- Always missing your bus or train
- Never getting tickets for a concert or show before they sell out
- Falling down the stairs in public
- Putting socks on which have holes in them
- Repeatedly burning food
- Burning yourself with hair straighteners
Source: StudyFinds
Photo: Getty