guess blindly

[/ɡɛs ˈblaɪndli/]
verb phrase
adivinhar às cegas
1. to make a guess without any information, evidence, or logical basis; to attempt to answer or solve something without any real knowledge or clues
Without studying, I had to guess blindly on most of the exam questions.
Sem estudar, tive que adivinhar às cegas na maioria das questões do exame.
2. to make a wild or random assumption about something
He was just guessing blindly when he claimed to know what happened.
Ele estava apenas adivinhando às cegas quando afirmou saber o que tinha acontecido.
This phrase is commonly used in academic and professional contexts in both Brazil and the USA to describe situations where someone must answer without sufficient information. In Brazil, it's often used informally with the verb 'chutar' (to kick/guess), reflecting a more casual approach to uncertainty. The phrase carries a somewhat negative connotation, suggesting lack of preparation or knowledge.
NYC Slang
take a shot in the dark
Synonyms / Sinônimos
guess randomlytake a wild guessstab in the darkshoot in the darkguesstimate wildly
Antonyms / Antônimos
deduce logicallyinfer from evidenceknow for certaindetermine precisely

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
adivinhar às cegas
most common and standard usage
Rio de Janeiro
chutar sem saber
more colloquial, literally 'to kick without knowing'
São Paulo
adivinhar no escuro
alternative phrasing meaning 'to guess in the dark'
Portugal
adivinhar à sorte
literally 'to guess by luck', common in European Portuguese

Related Words

speculationconjectureassumptionhypothesisrandom guesswild guess

Related Idioms & Phrases

stab in the dark
shot in the dark
wild goose chase
throw caution to the wind
flying blind
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