aimless attempt; shot in the dark
Proverbial expression for an action taken without clear aim or information, like firing a gun in the dark. Often used when someone does something without knowing what they are aiming at or without a clear plan. Rare in modern conversation; more common in literary or explanatory contexts.
That approach is just a shot in the dark.
Investing without any information is like firing a gun in the dark.
暗中模索 means groping in the dark, often used for a process of trial and error. 闇夜に鉄砲 emphasizes the aimlessness of a single attempt rather than a search.
当てずっぽう is a more casual, everyday word for a random guess or shot in the dark. 闇夜に鉄砲 is a proverbial, somewhat literary expression.
Literally 'a gun in the dark night'. The phrase is a traditional Japanese proverb; its exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from the imagery of firing a gun blindly at night.