take potluck

Idioms  

1. Come to eat whatever happens to be served; also, take one's chances. For example, You're welcome to join us for supper but you'll have to take potluck, or When the flight was canceled, passengers had to take potluck on other airlines. This idiom alludes to accepting whatever happens to be in the cooking pot. [Second half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

Season-ticket holders buy out 85% of the house in advance, and take potluck.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rural areas of the South or small Midwestern towns have to take potluck.

From Time Magazine Archive

Every evening hundreds of disappointed latecomers must take potluck elsewhere.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was not unusual for President Oscar Osorio himself to drive up unannounced to the embassy and take potluck luncheon with the Dukes.

From Time Magazine Archive

If a friend comes, and there is time to receive him and something for him to eat, he will be invited to take "potluck" with his family.

From The Sexual Question A Scientific, psychological, hygienic and sociological study by Forel, Auguste