a shot in the dark
an attempt with little chance of success
TRANSLATION
a shot in the dark = ein Schuss in's Blaue, ein Versuch auf gut Glück --- GOOGLE INDEX a shot in the dark: approximately 250,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Sending out hundreds of job resumes is one big SHOT IN THE DARK — but shots in the dark occasionally hit something...
(The Christian Science Monitor)
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Is fitting solar panels to your roof a shining example or a SHOT IN THE DARK?
(BBC News)
(The Christian Science Monitor)
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Is fitting solar panels to your roof a shining example or a SHOT IN THE DARK?
(BBC News)
Did you
know?
a shot in the dark
idiom
- an attempt that has little chance of success
- a wild guess
(Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary)
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The expression "a shot in the dark" stems from the idea of trying to shoot something in the dark with a weapon, like a gun or rifle. The chances of hitting the target are obviously not very good. Thus a shot in the dark refers to an attempt that likely won't succeed or it can mean a guess that is based on little or no prior information.
A similar expression is "long shot," which refers to a venture that offers a great reward if successful, but has very little chance of success. It is often used to describe placing a bet on a race horse with very high odds, so that if the horse does win, the pay off is correspondingly high.
Shot is one of the more versatile words when it comes to idioms. Here is a sample of other idioms using the word "shot:"
- a cheap shot = criticism of someone or something that is unfair
- shot to hell = to be destroyed or in a very bad condition
- a parting shot = a remark that you say as you are leaving somewhere so that it has a strong effect
- a shot across the bow = a warning to stop doing something
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Some health experts say the swine flu vaccination is a shot in the dark."
idiom
- an attempt that has little chance of success
- a wild guess
(Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary)
---
The expression "a shot in the dark" stems from the idea of trying to shoot something in the dark with a weapon, like a gun or rifle. The chances of hitting the target are obviously not very good. Thus a shot in the dark refers to an attempt that likely won't succeed or it can mean a guess that is based on little or no prior information.
A similar expression is "long shot," which refers to a venture that offers a great reward if successful, but has very little chance of success. It is often used to describe placing a bet on a race horse with very high odds, so that if the horse does win, the pay off is correspondingly high.
Shot is one of the more versatile words when it comes to idioms. Here is a sample of other idioms using the word "shot:"
- a cheap shot = criticism of someone or something that is unfair
- shot to hell = to be destroyed or in a very bad condition
- a parting shot = a remark that you say as you are leaving somewhere so that it has a strong effect
- a shot across the bow = a warning to stop doing something
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Some health experts say the swine flu vaccination is a shot in the dark."
