hit or miss
hit or miss
adjective Sometimes good or successful, sometimes not; having mixed or unpredictable results; random, aimless, careless, or haphazard. Often hyphenated. Films at the festival were hit or miss, but they were all unique. The company still relies on hit-or-miss techniques that seem antiquated by today's standards. The tour around the region felt a bit hit or miss, with no clear agenda or plan.
See also: hit, miss
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hit or miss
Haphazardly, at random. For example, She took dozens of photos, hit or miss, hoping that some would be good. [c. 1600]
See also: hit, miss
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
hit or miss
as likely to be unsuccessful as successful.See also: hit, miss
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hit or miss
Haphazard, at random. This term almost certainly comes from shooting or throwing at some kind of target and was transferred very early on to making an attempt of any kind, knowing that one might succeed or fail. It has been so used since the sixteenth century. “But hit or miss, our project’s life this shape of sense assumes,” wrote Shakespeare (Troilus and Cressida). It later appeared in several collections of proverbs.
See also: hit, miss
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- hit and miss
- hit-and-miss
- in demand
- bleeding edge
- whop
- whopping
- Molly whop (one)
- Molly whop someone
- Mother Nature
- muckety muck