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Synonyms

crapshoot

American  
[krap-shoot] / ˈkræpˌʃut /

noun

  1. Informal. anything unpredictable, risky, or problematical; gamble.

verb (used without object)

crapshot, crapshooting

  1. to play craps.

  2. Informal. to take risks; gamble.

Etymology

Origin of crapshoot

First recorded in 1970–75; crap 2 + shoot 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Until then, a bet on Fannie and Freddie’s common stocks is essentially a crapshoot.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

And while high costs are certain, future returns are a crapshoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

“The reality is the transfer portal, to me it’s a bigger crapshoot than a high school kid,” Fickell said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023

But for all his hard work and preparation, he views college admissions as a crapshoot.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2023

Fringe theatergoing is a crapshoot; that’s pretty much a rule.

From New York Times • Sep. 1, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.