shot in the dark; aimless attempt; crapshoot
Idiomatic expression for an action taken without clear aim or knowledge, like firing a gun in the dark. Often used when the outcome is uncertain and the attempt is based on guesswork.
His proposal was a shot in the dark, but surprisingly it succeeded.
当てずっぽうで答えるのは闇夜の鉄砲だ。
Answering with a wild guess is like a shot in the dark.
当てずっぽう means a random guess or conjecture, while 闇夜の鉄砲 emphasizes the aimless, uncertain nature of an attempt, often with a nuance of recklessness.
手探り means groping or fumbling in the dark, often used for searching physically or metaphorically without clear guidance. 闇夜の鉄砲 is more about taking a shot or making an attempt without knowing the target.
Literally 'a gun in the dark night'. The phrase evokes the image of firing a gun without being able to see the target, symbolizing an action taken blindly or without proper aim. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional Japanese idiom.