pick out of a hat
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Referring to the impromptu use of one's hat as a receptacle for drawing paper lots from.
Pronunciation
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
pick out of a hat (third-person singular simple present picks out of a hat, present participle picking out of a hat, simple past and past participle picked out of a hat)
- To determine by chance, especially by drawing lots.
- Synonym: draw lots
- To substitute a guess for unavailable data.
- Synonym: pluck from thin air
- That number was just picked out of a hat.