Phrases and Sayings:
* "Born under a bad sign": This implies that someone is destined for misfortune.
* "Cursed": This implies that someone is subjected to a supernatural force bringing bad luck.
* "Have a jinx": This suggests that someone has an uncanny ability to attract bad luck.
* "Unlucky in love/money/etc": This is a more straightforward way of describing someone who has a pattern of misfortune in specific areas of life.
* "Have a charmed life" (ironically): This is a sarcastic way to describe someone who seems to always face misfortune.
Literary and Mythological References:
* "Tragic hero/heroine": This term is often used in literature and mythology to describe someone who is destined for suffering and misfortune.
* "The curse of Oedipus": This refers to the Greek myth of Oedipus, who was destined for a tragic fate.
* "The Wandering Jew": This legend tells the story of a Jewish man who is cursed to wander the Earth forever.
Psychological Terms:
* "Learned helplessness": This term describes the feeling of being unable to control one's destiny, often stemming from repeated negative experiences.
* "Pessimistic explanatory style": This refers to a tendency to attribute negative events to internal, stable, and global factors, leading to a sense of hopelessness.
Ultimately, the best way to describe someone who "lives under a bad star" depends on the specific situation and the desired level of formality.