THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A shot in the dark
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
A guess made with little or no information to support it.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- My guess about the password was a shot in the dark.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
My guess about the password was ________.
Show the answer
A shot in the dark — A guess made with little or no information to support it.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A shot in the dark” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
A guess made with little or no information to support it.
Compare: My guess about the password was a shot in the dark.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this informally when you suggest an answer without enough evidence. It is useful when solving a problem or answering a difficult question.
More examples in context
- Without the old records, our estimate was just a shot in the dark.
- Saying the parcel will arrive tomorrow would be a shot in the dark.
Usage note
A shot in the dark focuses on a lack of information. A long shot focuses on a low chance of success; the two expressions are not always interchangeable.
A short conversation
A: How many people will come?
B: Perhaps forty, but that is a shot in the dark.
A: Let us check the replies before ordering food.
One more practice question
Which answer is a shot in the dark?
A. A number guessed without seeing any data.
B. A total calculated from complete, checked records.
Check your answer
A. The number has no supporting information, so it is a guess in the dark.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.