lucky dip

Random prize draw

A lucky dip is a game, typically at fairs or children's parties, where you reach into a container and pull out a prize at random without seeing what you're getting.

The term extends to any situation involving blind selection or chance outcome: Buying a used car online is a bit of a lucky dip.

Chiefly British; Americans say grab bag.

container

bucket

Open-top carrying vessel

  • tubOpen washing basin
  • barrelHooped cylindrical vessel
  • boxLidded storage container

sack · sawdust · tissue paper · grab bag · mystery box · goodie bag · party bag · treasure chest

game

tombola

Lottery with rotating drum

prize draw · scratchcard · lottery · jackpot · giveaway · contest · wheel of fortune · fete · carnival · fairground

chance

random

Occurring without pattern

risk · hit or miss · take a chance · serendipity · fate · fortune · fluke · unpredictable · haphazard · random selection

surprise

unexpected

Not anticipated beforehand

excitement · unwrapping · discovery · suspense · blind box · secret gift · wonderment · thrill · delight · astonishment

metaphor

hit and miss

Unpredictably successful or not

roll of the dice · blind date · mystery tour

Categories
Opposites
selection method

lucky dipdeliberate choice

Decision made on purpose

cherry-picking · curated selection · informed decision · handpicked · hand-picked

knowledge and certainty

lucky dipsure thing

Guaranteed outcome or agreement

known quantity · certainty · safe bet · what you see is what you get · foregone conclusion

control over outcome

lucky dipmerit-based selection

Choosing by demonstrated ability

auction · competitive bidding

Family

dip, luck, lucky, unlucky, luckily, dipped, dipping, dips, dipper

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G