coin flipping
Heads or tails
Coin flipping is the act of tossing a coin and letting it land to produce a random outcome—heads or tails.
It's used to make decisions when either option seems equally valid: We'll flip a coin for it.
The method assumes a fair fifty-fifty chance, making it a common metaphor for randomness or leaving something to luck: At this point, picking a winner is basically coin flipping.
- headsTop of bodies
- tailsRear animal appendages
- heads or tailsFlip outcome options
- tossLight, casual throw
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
fair chance · luck · luck of the draw · wager · bet · decision · random · probability · even odds · quarter · penny · nickel · call · catch · thumb · spin · fifty-fifty · gamble
- randomized algorithmsMonte Carlo, Las Vegas, random sampling, random selection, shuffling
- gamblinggamble, gambling, casinos, casino, bets
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
coin flippingdeliberate choice
Decision made on purpose
informed choice · strategic planning · weighing options · cost-benefit analysis · due diligence
coin flippingforegone conclusion
Result assumed beforehand
certainty · inevitability · sure thing · determinism · predestination
coin, flipping, coins, coined, coining, coinage, flip, flips, flipped