Crap shoot
Meaning
A situation or undertaking whose outcome is entirely unpredictable and largely dependent on chance.
Origin
The phrase 'crap shoot' pulls directly from the game of craps, a fast-paced dice game known for its unpredictable outcomes. While the game itself evolved from the medieval European game of Hazard, gaining immense popularity in America, particularly among soldiers during World War II, it became synonymous with pure chance. A 'crap shoot' in its literal sense is simply a round of craps, where fortunes can change with a single roll of the dice. This vivid image of luck and uncertainty then leaped into the general lexicon, serving as a powerful metaphor for any venture or situation where success is entirely left to fate.
Examples
- Deciding to invest all our savings in that volatile stock market felt like a total crap shoot.
- Without any prior experience, applying for that highly competitive job was a crap shoot, but I had to try.