crapshoot

American  

[krap-shoot] / ˈkræpˌʃut /

noun

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

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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

“Candidly to some degree it can be a crapshoot.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The MLB postseason, which begins on Tuesday, is often described as a “crapshoot”—a zany, monthlong gauntlet where chaos reigns supreme and the best team in the regular season rarely wins.

From The Wall Street Journal

TSA has often been a crapshoot, risking pileups as travelers pulled laptops from carry-ons and novice vacationers struggled to untie their sneakers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Everyone could use a more extensive palette of human possibility than the one supplied by the crapshoot of an immediate family.

From Los Angeles Times

The crapshoot of a 162-game season and unpredictable playoff format still looms too, especially for a team that frequently faltered in the postseason before finally prevailing last October.

From Los Angeles Times