Meaning
Something that happens by luck.
Cultural Background
In the works of Alexander Pushkin, 'случай' is often portrayed as a powerful force that can change a hero's life in an instant, reflecting the 19th-century fascination with gambling and fate. In big cities like Moscow, 'дело случая' is frequently used to describe the chaos of traffic or finding a seat in a crowded metro, reflecting a resigned acceptance of urban unpredictability. Many Russians believe that talking too much about 'luck' can scare it away, so 'дело случая' is a safe, neutral way to acknowledge good fortune without sounding too boastful. The cult film 'The Irony of Fate' is the ultimate exploration of 'дело случая,' where a man ends up in a different city in an identical apartment by pure coincidence.
Use 'Чистое' for emphasis
Adding 'чистое' (pure) makes you sound very native when you are surprised by luck.
Don't use with 'бизнес'
Remember, 'дело' is the only word that works here. 'Бизнес случая' sounds like a company name.
Meaning
Something that happens by luck.
Use 'Чистое' for emphasis
Adding 'чистое' (pure) makes you sound very native when you are surprised by luck.
Don't use with 'бизнес'
Remember, 'дело' is the only word that works here. 'Бизнес случая' sounds like a company name.
Humility is key
Russians often use this phrase to avoid sounding arrogant about their achievements.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word in the correct case.
Наш выигрыш — это просто дело ______.
The word must be in the genitive case after 'дело'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly to describe a random encounter?
Выберите правильный вариант:
The phrase is used for unplanned, random events.
Complete the dialogue.
— Как ты нашел эту редкую книгу? — Да я просто зашел в старый магазин. Это было...
'Дело случая' fits the context of finding something by accident.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesНаш выигрыш — это просто дело ______.
The word must be in the genitive case after 'дело'.
Выберите правильный вариант:
The phrase is used for unplanned, random events.
— Как ты нашел эту редкую книгу? — Да я просто зашел в старый магазин. Это было...
'Дело случая' fits the context of finding something by accident.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIt is neutral. It can describe a lucky win (positive) or a random accident (negative).
No, that would mean 'a random task' or 'a random court case.' Stick to the fixed phrase.
You say: 'Это не просто дело случая.'
Yes, it is neutral-formal. You can use it to explain market fluctuations.
Related Phrases
дело времени
similarA matter of time
дело чести
similarA matter of honor
воля случая
synonymThe will of chance
на всякий случай
builds onJust in case
