system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
LI5: Could you please explain the phrase 'Deus Ex Machina'?

I know it translates roughly as 'God from the Machine' and deals with unexplained events that further a plot, but I've never been able to grasp how it is applied to real life situations. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
gpt
It comes from when they used statues to represent gods in plays a long time ago. The machine part is because they were often lowered onto the stage with ropes and pulleys. They would often bring these onto the  stage when the plot got stuck. The god would do something magic that solved a problem or moved the plot on.  
It's generally considered bad to use it in fiction these days, as it means the writer hasn't thought of a better way to move the plot along.  
It isn't really used much in everyday situations, but people might mention it when something very unlikely happens that solves a problem someone has.