Sod's law is a name for the axiom of "bad fortune will be tailored to the individual" and "anything that can go wrong, will".[1] "Toast will always land butter side down" is often given as an example of Sod's law in action. The phrase is seemingly derived, at least in part, from the colloquialism an "unlucky sod"; a term for someone who has had some bad unlucky experience, and is usually used as a sympathetic reference to the person.

The term is still used in the United Kingdom, though in North America the eponymous "Murphy's law" is more popular.[2]

Sod's law is similar to, but broader than, Murphy's law ("Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong"). For example, concepts such as "bad fortune will be tailored to the individual" and "good fortune will occur in spite of the individual's actions" are sometimes given as examples of Sod's law in action. This would broaden Sod's law to a general sense of being "mocked by fate". In these aspects it is similar to some definitions of irony, particularly the irony of fate. Murphy's technological origin on John Stapp's Project MX981 is more upbeat—it was a reminder to the engineers and team members to be cautious and make sure everything was accounted for, to let no stone be left unturned—not an acceptance of an uncaring uninfluenceable fate.

Some examples of "bad fortune will be tailored to the individual" include:

Ludwig van Beethoven's loss of hearing—loss of hearing is bad fortune for anyone, but it is Sod's law that it would happen to a brilliant composer.
Adolph Coors III, who was allergic to beer, was the heir to the Coors beer empire—being allergic to beer is bad fortune for many, but it is Sod's law that someone allergic to beer would inherit a beer empire (and, due to a botched kidnapping attempt, die because of the empire's wealth, thus being killed by beer, if only indirectly).
Lou Gehrig developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a paralyzing neurological disorder, but it is Sod's law that this would happen to an athlete. ALS is commonly called "Lou Gehrig's disease" in the United States.

With me i could drive 100 days on hire but if i drive to the shops for some bread the engine falls out, also, i can drop kids at school, drive home no problem, get in it to fetch em out and the car gives up

i parked up one friday night 7pm, perfect, next morning 7am for the school, get in the car and a front coil is broken....HOW?

Because it was a Saterday you doughnut, no schools

i parked up one friday night 7pm, perfect, next morning 7am for the school, get in the car and a front coil is broken....HOW?

never received so many text messages telling me how friggin busy it is either

They might be taking the pi**.

With me i could drive 100 days on hire but if i drive to the shops for some bread the engine falls out, also, i can drop kids at school, drive home no problem, get in it to fetch em out and the car gives up

i parked up one friday night 7pm, perfect, next morning 7am for the school, get in the car and a front coil is broken....HOW?

apparently its been the best sunday in living memory