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Pick Out of a Hat

What Does "Pick Out of a Hat" Mean?

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"Pick out of a hat" is an English idiom. It means "to make a random or arbitrary selection, often by drawing names or options from a container, typically for choosing a winner or making a decision."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "pick out of a hat" used in a sentence:
  • They decided to pick a winner out of a hat during the raffle drawing.
  • When there are too many options, sometimes it's best to pick one out of a hat.
  • To ensure fairness, they picked the order of presentations out of a hat.
meaning for pick out of a hat

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pick Out of a Hat" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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