a stab in the dark
noun phrase
1
: a guess that is based on very little or no information or evidence
They don't really know how much the work will cost. They're just taking a stab in the dark.
2
: an attempt that is not likely to succeed
It's a stab in the dark, but we should try anyway.
Examples of a stab in the dark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So kids, tourniquet that ol’ arm off, sharpen yr works on the strike surface of a matchbook, then take a stab in the dark with these.
—
Henry Everingham, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2024
But where to start was the infernal question; every attempt would be a stab in the dark.
—Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2023
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Henry Everingham, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2024
But where to start was the infernal question; every attempt would be a stab in the dark.
—Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“A stab in the dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20stab%20in%20the%20dark. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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