Nikki decided to learn singing on a lark.

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alpacinou

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Is the idiom "on a lark" used in British English? Have I used it correctly in these sentences? Are they okay?

1. Nikki decided to learn singing on a lark.
2. Gareth started the website on lark but it developed to be a very successful business.
3. The billionaire bought the NBA team on a lark and sunk two billion dollars into it.
4. Jane bought a 75-inch TV on a lark but experienced buyer's remorse when it was delivered.
5. I asked her out on a lark and wanted to just fool around with her, but things got serious and now I'm thinking about proposing.
6. I enrolled in an acting class on a lark. Little did I know I'd end up performing in the same movie as Susan Sarandon.
 
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I've never heard it. All of your sentences sound to me as if you've mixed up "as a lark" and "on a whim".
 
In American English it's either "on a lark" or "as a lark". (Merriam-Webster.)

No. 2 should be "developed into a successful business".

No. 3 doesn't work for obvious reasons
 
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No. 3 doesn't work for obvious reasons
They are not obvious to me, apart from 'sunk' for 'sank'. Could you explain, please.
 
They are not obvious to me, apart from 'sunk' for 'sank'. Could you explain, please.
You don't spend a billion dollars on a lark. That's serious money. Also, being a billionaire means your net worth is a billion dollars or more. It doesn't mean you have a billion to spend. It might be tied up in investments. Also, if I'm a billionaire that means I'm worth at least a billion dollars -- not two.
 
Those objections to #3 are subjective opinions @Tarheel. From a language point of view there are only two problems, 'sunk' and (for speakers of BrE) 'on a lark'.
 
I've heard "for a lark" and "as a lark". I'm not sure I've heard "on a lark".

Gareth started the website on lark
You need "a" before "lark". And I'd use "for a lark" here.
 
I've heard "for a lark" and "as a lark". I'm not sure I've heard "on a lark
The compilers of Merriam-Webster have, as Tarheel noted in post '3.

 
I don't think (as an AmE speaker) I've even ever heard the versions with 'for' or 'as'. I've only heard and used 'on', although I see Webster does list 'as' as an alternate form of 'on'.
 
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