hit-or-miss

IPA/ˌhɪt ɔː ˈmɪs/
IPA/ˌhɪt ɔːr ˈmɪs/

hit-or-miss — adjective

1. done in a way that lacks careful planning or organisation, so the result is ofte

1.形容詞B2
釋義

done in a way that lacks careful planning or organisation, so the result is often poor or unpredictable

例句

The hotel's booking system was hit-or-miss, so Chidi reserved two rooms as a backup.

predicative: be + hit-or-miss describing a system

Ravindra's tomato plants grew in a hit-or-miss way — some thrived while others wilted.

attributive: hit-or-miss + noun (way)

同義詞
  • haphazard

    emphasises lack of plan or system more than unreliability of the result

  • random

    suggests complete absence of purpose or pattern

  • unpredictable

    broader in scope; can apply to any situation where the outcome cannot be known in advance

  • erratic

    focuses on inconsistent behaviour or quality over time

反義詞
  • reliable

    can be depended on to produce consistent results

  • systematic

    follows a clear, organised plan

文法句型

be + hit-or-miss

hit-or-miss + noun

用法筆記

Also commonly written as hit-and-miss. Both forms are interchangeable and can appear attributively (a hit-or-miss approach) or predicatively (the results were hit-or-miss). The adverbial use — doing something hit-or-miss — means 'in an unplanned, haphazard way.'

常見錯誤

❌His approach was hit-or-miss, so every project had a determined outcome.
✅His approach was hit-or-miss, so every project had an uncertain outcome.
💡hit-or-miss implies unpredictability, not the opposite.
❌The weather here is hit-or-miss; it always rains at five.
✅The weather here is hit-or-miss; some days are sunny and others rainy.
💡hit-or-miss describes irregular results, not a fixed pattern.