ENGLISH
REFERENCE

throw things at the wall and see what sticks

idiom
Meaning

To experiment in a haphazard or random manner with the hope that some amount of success may be achieved.


Origin

disputed origin

From the proverb throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.

Examples
SIMPLE

We throw things at the wall and see what sticks to find ideas.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing team decided to throw things at the wall and see what sticks since they had no clear strategy for the new product.

COMPLEX

Rather than conducting thorough market research, the startup preferred to throw things at the wall and see what sticks, hoping that one of their many experimental campaigns would eventually gain traction.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    ain't what it used to was

    Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).

  2. 02

    all things considered

    Generally speaking; in terms of the big picture.

  3. 03

    all things to all people

    Someone or something that entirely satisfies the expectations of everyone, no matter how diverse and conflicting those expectations may be.

  4. 04

    back to the wall

    A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.

  5. 05

    balls to the wall

    With maximum effort or commitment.

  6. 06

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  7. 07

    blue wall of silence

    Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.

  8. 08

    break the fourth wall

    To apparently communicate with reality directly, such as when characters of literature comment on the existence of a reader.

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