I still use it sometimes, usually when the outcome of the situation isn’t in the person’s control, but if it is, I’ll say “Go for it!” instead.

Good luck in your search.

better or worse than phony?

“I wish you success in your job interview.”

Personally, I don’t think “good luck” implies that the person can’t make it on his own. I think it’s just a wish for that extra little push of fate: the interviewer is in a good mood; the job seeker did a final mirror check and noticed the poppyseed between his teeth.

But if you don’t like it, naturally, you should not say it.

In fact, you could even call attention to it.

“I would wish you good luck if I didn’t know that you already have everything you need to ace that job interview tomorrow.”

when someone has wished me luck, even in the cases when luck was not much of a factor.

“I hope it goes well for you.”

“May you get what you want out of this…”

or just “I’ll be thinking of you.”

With people who are comfortable with God talk, there’s also:

“Godspeed” and “God bless” but I’m very careful not to use those if they are just going to muddy the water.

These people seem to think luck is something you chose/create for yourself anyway, so maybe it’s not such a bad wish? “Good luck – in which luck is a positive frame of mind you have created for yourself through preparation, postitive mental attitude, and being open to opportunities”. Of course, you might want to shorten that ;)

You can wish me luck, or any/all of the above alternatives on Wednesday, btw :)

“It’s strange, the more I practise, the luckier I get”

Very often ‘luck’ (aka success) is down to good planning rather than any intervention of fate. Living where we do in beautiful Pemberley, lots of people comment on how lucky we are to be here, but really is it luck? Part of being able to afford to buy this place is that both DH and I are now ‘orphans’ and have inherited from our parents, and invested this in our property. I would much rather have Mum and Dad still around and live somewhere smaller – this is in fact no contest. Maybe we are unlucky to lose our folks relatively young.

Part of it is because we planned exactly what we wanted in a home, and spent several months actually homeless in the transition in order to get exactly the right place.

But part of it is fate in that we were born in this part of the world. Birth being something over which we had no control.

I wish you every success in finding your alternative :)

^{but I do still believe in the power of ‘Paws Crossed’ ;)}

TOV: Good luck, usually said as a statement of support or congratulations. (I have a goal use more Yiddish words.)

...are “Viel Erfolg!” and “success!”, which both refer to a positive outcome rather than the means of getting there (i.e., the universe or a deity intervening).
I always liked both expressions because they are just to the point and don’t apply pressure on a personal level. It’s self-evident that an interviewee will do their best when being interviewed. (Yoda: “Do or do not… there is no try.”)
I shouldn’t need to tell them to do well or trust in themselves, which might make them wonder why I feel the need to tell them, isn’t it clear that they already do?
I see your point in your search. I personally have a bigger problem with a god coming into play than the unpredictability of the universe. But that’s my heathen self speaking…

Luck, good or bad, is just a synonym for “happenstance,” isn’t it?