draw lots
Pick by chance
To draw lots is to select randomly from a set of objects—straws, slips of paper, marked stones—to make a decision or assign tasks.
The method settles disputes, distributes duties, or chooses winners without bias: We drew lots to see who would go first.
The practice is ancient, appearing in religious texts and classical literature as a way to determine divine will.
- short strawSelection marking misfortune
- toss a coinRandom binary decision method
- flip a coinRandom two-option selector
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- fair chanceReasonable probability of success
pick out of a hat · roll the dice · dice roll · random selection · lottery ticket · ballot · pull out of the hat · lucky dip · pick a number · straw · odds · likelihood · coin toss · deck of cards · divination · token · randomness · spin the bottle
draw lotsdecide
Reach a conclusion
deliberate · elect · appoint · weigh options · curate
draw, draws, drew, drawn, drawing, drawings, drawer, drawers, withdrawal