at random

Idioms and Phrases

Without order or fixed purpose, haphazardly, as in Jackson Pollock dropped paints on canvas seemingly at random . Originally this phrase meant “very speedily” and “heedlessly.” Shakespeare had the present usage in 1 Henry VI (5:3): “He talks at random; sure the man is mad.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

So now imagine you could do that same thought experiment, but not just doing it at random, doing it at a large scale while having some metric of screening for those who actually had both the greatest competence as well as the greatest commitment and knowledge of the Constitution.

From Slate

Some houses, seemingly scattered at random, were reduced to rubble with only a lifeless moonscape left behind.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the houses that ended up falling victim to the flames were virtually chosen at random — at the mercy of wherever embers happened to land, some jumping up to a mile ahead of the main fire.

From Los Angeles Times

In Camarillo Heights, the remains of burned houses dotted the landscape, seemingly engulfed at random.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition, California requires a post-election audit, a manual tally of at least 1% of precincts, chosen at random.

From Los Angeles Times