Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
shot in the dark

shot in the dark

Date: Aug 13 2015

Themes: Celebrity, Pop Culture

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“This whole acting thing was an absolute shot in the dark. If it didn’t work, I had my hammer and tool belt, and could have been banging nails again the next day.”

Actor Matt LeBlanc, talking about how unlikely his success as an actor was (BrainyQuote)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

hopeful try; attempt that is unlikely to work

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Have you ever bought a lottery ticket? You know that it is nearly impossible to win, so why did you buy it? It’s fun because even though you probably won’t win, there is a small chance you could become incredibly rich! Every time somebody buys a lottery ticket, it’s a shot in the dark.

A shot in the dark is when someone makes a hopeful try at something, even though it is unlikely to work. For example, let’s say that you see an opening for a job that pays a lot of money. You would like to get the job, but you know there are probably people with more experience and better qualifications than you who also want the job. You can decide not to try, or you can take a shot in the dark and apply, even though you do not expect to get the job.

Actor Matt LeBlanc says his whole acting career was a shot in the dark. He did not expect it to work, but instead he became incredibly famous for his role on the TV show “Friends.” Sometimes, a shot in the dark works out perfectly.

When is the last time you took a shot in the dark? How did it go?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“Tad’s request to stay up past bedtime was a shot in the dark.”

“Asking Mikaela to marry me was a shot in the dark. But she said yes!”

“Every time I ask for a raise it’s a shot in the dark. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

aijaciba To guess without knowledge about the subject.
by aijaciba
a2020 Not clear.
by a2020
Manu4 An uncertain thing.
by Manu4
Duagra When you guess or try to do something without being sure of its success.
by Duagra

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

Sergijko

Sergijko

Ukraine

Shot in the dark is a good act to try yourself in something new and even though you are not gonna get raised at the job or just fail at something else, it is a tutorial for life!

07:31 PM Oct 27 2015 |

phn_uk

phn_uk

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Matt LeBlanc did an amazing act in “Friends”, one of the most successful series in the history of TV and since then he has established himself as a successful actor.


A shot in the dark doesn’t work most of the time, but as we have to always have hope and be hopeful towards our future it’s good to try it, even though we know from the beginning that it’s highly unlikely to win and succeed in whatever it is. 


These days we see lots of competitions with unbelievable prizes and people tend to participate in them and have a shot in the dark. Because if they win it, it’ll change their life forever. So don’t panic, don’t be hopeless and always try it, maybe next time, a shot in the dark works out perfectly for you.

07:59 AM Aug 14 2015 |

dodgewiper

dodgewiper

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Matt LeBlank is amazing in Friends series.

05:15 PM Aug 13 2015 |

ml2000

ml2000Super Member!

Canada

You go to casino and play at a slot machine hoping to hit a jackpot and win big money. Knowing that the chance of hitting a big jackpot is very slim, you push the button and shot in the dark. So, I would say that all the people sitting at the slot machines in casino are shoting in the dark.  It is a perfect place for those people who like shoting in the dark.   LOL.      

Djana

Djana

Algeria

There’s a compition,and i’m planing to enter in it,even though the possibilities of wining,or being one of the five winners,it’s kind of weak,but i wanna try,so i think it’s gonna be a shot in the dark!

Likes (9):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast

More English Lessons