hit-or-miss

[ hit-er-mis ]

adjective

1. careless; inattentive; haphazard:

   The professor criticized the hit-or-miss quality of our research.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hit-or-miss¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Idioms and Phrases

Haphazardly, at random. For example, She took dozens of photos, hit or miss, hoping that some would be good . [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

Her occasional sketches are hit-or-miss, best when they have some sly subtext.

From The Daily Beast

It probes around more or less hit-or-miss until it locates something, somewhere, that looks habitable.

From Project Gutenberg

We had made a wise choice, though on a hit-or-miss formula, and we were content.

From Project Gutenberg

He told his stories with a hit-or-miss air, as if accustomed to people of rapid apprehension.

From Project Gutenberg

He enjoyed life and wasted no time on trivial worries, hit-or-miss, the keynote to his thought.

From Project Gutenberg

A competitive game which is easy to manage is hit-or-miss illustrating.

From Project Gutenberg