crapshoot

American

[krap-shoot] / ˈkræpˌʃut /

noun

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

verb (used without object)

crapshot, crapshooting

to play craps.
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

“La Niña can surprise us. It’s still a crapshoot, but firefighters, water managers and farmers would be wise to be prepared.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2024

And though the draft is always a crapshoot, all teams get a better feel for the market of draftees at the NFL scouting combine, which will be held Feb. 26-March 4.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

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