Also: stab in the dark
Meaning of Shot in the Dark
A shot in the dark is a mere unsubstantiated guess based on little to no information; a desperate act or attempt not likely to succeed. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Ayto, John. [http://amzn.to/2vdGvI7 Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.,3Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
Sentence Examples
“The police officer said he didn’t know why he thought the thief would be in the abandoned apartment building. ‘It was just a shot in the dark,’ he said.”
“I had no idea what the answer to the first question was. I just took a shot in the dark.”
“It’s a shot in the dark but maybe this is an allergic reaction to something,” said the doctor.
“Just a shot in the dark, but try turning off your computer and turning it back on. That may get it working again.”
“Um, well, actually, this is, uh, this is just a shot in the dark but, uh, there’s no chance that you’re, uh, pre-law, is there?” — Good Will Hunting (1998)
“The President asked Voyles to back off?” “We thought it was just another shot in the dark. Now I’m not sure.” “That’s obstruction of justice.” — The Pelican Brief (1993)
“Maybe you liked his wife. Maybe you don’t like his drinking.” “Yeah, how can you possibly know about the drinking?” “Shot in the dark. Good one, though.” — Sherlock: Unaired Pilot (2011)
Origin
The phrase in the dark, in this idiom, means ‘in a state of ignorance.’ The phrase has been used this way since the 1600s. A shot or stab is used to mean ‘guess or an attempt.’
