wildcard
Chaos factor, basically
A wildcard is a playing card that can represent any other card the holder chooses.
The meaning extends to anything unpredictable that could change an outcome: The weather is the wildcard in tomorrow's game.
In computing, a wildcard character (usually * or ?) matches any character or string in a search.
In sports, a wildcard is a team or player admitted to a tournament despite not qualifying through standard routes.
Cutup or wild card
- trumpSuit outranking all others
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- globAmorphous soft mass
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
asterisk · regex · uno · deck · shuffle · dealer · discard · hand
Cannot be anticipated
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- randomOccurring without pattern
- chaoticTotally without arrangement
rogue · maverick · x-factor · variable · unforeseeable · mercurial · capricious · unstable
Amorphous soft mass
- asteriskTypographical reference mark
- regexText-matching notation
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- placeholderTemporary position marker
match · syntax · query · search · filter · escape · operator · string
Temporary human placeholder
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- alternateOccur in succession
proxy · understudy · reserve · pinch-hitter · surrogate · stopgap · placeholder · spare
joker
Cutup or wild card
- trumpSuit outranking all others
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- globAmorphous soft mass
pattern · asterisk · regex · uno · deck · shuffle · dealer · discard · hand · reshuffle
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- randomOccurring without pattern
chaotic · rogue · maverick · x-factor · variable · unforeseeable · mercurial · capricious · unstable · gamble
glob
Amorphous soft mass
- asteriskTypographical reference mark
- regexText-matching notation
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
placeholder · match · syntax · query · search · filter · escape · operator · string · mask
stand-in
Temporary human placeholder
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
alternate · proxy · understudy · reserve · pinch-hitter · surrogate · stopgap · placeholder · spare · relief
playoff
Contest deciding advancement
seed · qualifier · contender · dark-horse · spoiler · tournament · berth · bid · play-in · elimination
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- openingGap or start
- possibilityState of being achievable
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
option · ticket · pathway · entry · gateway · break · access · invitation · avenue · doorway
- Surfingsurfboards, surfboard, longboards, shortboards, longboard
- regexregex, pattern, match, quantifier, anchor
- Unixbash, cat, cd, grep, chmod
- shell scriptingbash, shebang, scripts, source, sourcing
- tennisace, serve, forehand, backhand, volley
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
wildcardsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
known quantity · safe bet · certainty · constant · guarantee
wildcardtop seed
Highest-ranked competitor
number one seed · qualifier · division winner · champion · defending champion