heads or tails
Toss-up query
Heads or tails is a method of deciding something by flipping a coin—one person calls which side will land face up.
Heads is the side showing a face or figure; tails is the reverse.
The phrase also names the call itself: Heads or tails?
By extension, it describes any situation left entirely to chance.
Quantified chance of occurrence
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- fifty-fiftySplit equally between two
- toss-upOutcome with equal chances
likelihood · unpredictability · variance · stochastic · aleatory · contingency · outcome · result
Stake on uncertain outcome
- riskPossibility of harm
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
Contest settling stalemate
Wealth or destiny
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
providence · fluke · omen · superstition · charmed · jinxed · unlucky · windfall
probability
Quantified chance of occurrence
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- fifty-fiftySplit equally between two
toss-up · likelihood · unpredictability · variance · stochastic · aleatory · contingency · outcome · result
toss
Light, casual throw
reverse · two-sided · landing · spin · catch · wager · bet · decide · settle · arbiter
gamble
Stake on uncertain outcome
unpredictable · indeterminate · unforeseeable · questionable
tie-breaker
Contest settling stalemate
selection · finality · commitment · determining · conclusive
fortune
Wealth or destiny
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
serendipity · providence · fluke · omen · superstition · charmed · jinxed · unlucky · windfall · karma
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- Either/Oryes or no, true or false, on or off, in or out, up or down
- random selectioncoin flip, dice roll, lottery, raffle, random draw
- gamblinggamble, gambling, casinos, casino, bets
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
heads or tailsinformed decision
Choice made with facts
rock-paper-scissors · drawing straws · cost-benefit analysis · deliberation · deliberate choice
heads or tailscertainty
Total absence of doubt
foregone conclusion · sure thing · inevitability · destiny · fate
head, tail, retail, heading, tails, heads, headed, headline, header