random shooting; shooting blindly
Literally 'blind shooting'; firing a gun without aiming, or figuratively doing something haphazardly. The term めくら is now often avoided due to its derogatory connotation, but this compound persists in certain contexts.
The criminal started shooting blindly into the crowd.
His method is just like shooting in the dark.
Standard kanji spelling. Note that 盲 (めくら) is a sensitive term for blindness; the compound is used idiomatically.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling sometimes seen.
Compound of 盲 (めくら, 'blindness') and 撃ち (うち, 'shooting'), the continuative form of 撃つ (うつ, 'to shoot'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose as a vivid metaphor for shooting without aiming.