PhrasesHub

Take potluck

    Definitions

      • to take a chance
        To participate in something without knowing what the outcome will be, often with the understanding that the result may be good or bad.

      • to share what is available
        To bring or contribute whatever one has available for a meal or gathering, often without prior planning or coordination.

    Examples of Take potluck

    • I decided to take potluck with my lunch today and packed a variety of foods to see what my colleagues would bring.

      In this example, "take potluck" means to leave the selection of food up to chance or uncertainty. It's often used in the context of group events where each person brings a dish to share. In this scenario, the speaker is uncertain about what foods will be brought to the office lunch and is packing a variety to increase their chances of enjoying the meal.

    • I didn't feel like cooking tonight, so I took potluck and ordered delivery from a few different restaurants.

      Again, "take potluck" refers to choosing one's meal at random. In this case, the speaker is taking their chances with the delivery menus and ordering a selection of foods from different restaurants to see which ones they enjoy.

    • I have a busy day ahead, so I'm afraid I'll have to take potluck with breakfast this morning.

      Here, "take potluck" is used in relation to food that hasn't been prepared yet. The speaker is unsure what they will have for breakfast because they haven't planned or prepared anything in advance.

    • In this potluck experiment, we're taking potluck with the seating arrangements and letting chance determine where each guest sits.

      In this final example, "take potluck" is used in a novel and creative way outside of the context of food. The speaker is using chance to determine seating arrangements for a group event, rather than pre-planning or assigning seats. It's an interesting and unexpected use that demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of this idiom.

    • She decided to take potluck with dinner tonight and picked up a few dishes on her way home.

      When someone takes potluck, it means they are leaving the decision about what to eat to chance. In this example, the woman decides not to plan a full dinner and instead picks up a few dishes from somewhere else to eat.

    • The company threw a big party last night, and since I didn't know what to expect, I took potluck with the dress code.

      When someone takes potluck with the dress code, it means they are unsure about what to wear to a specific event and don't want to overdress or underdress. In this case, the person didn't know what the dress code was for the party, so they left the decision up to chance by dressing nicely but not too formally.

    • We're planning a trip to Europe, but since we're not sure which countries to visit, we're going to take potluck and decide once we get there.

      In this example, the group is unsure about which specific countries to visit on their trip to Europe. They decide to take potluck, which means they will make a decision about which countries to visit once they arrive in Europe and have a better understanding of what they want to do.

    • I'm going to a conference next week and am not sure which sessions to attend. I'm going to take potluck and pick the ones that sound interesting as I go.

      In this example, the person is unsure about which specific sessions to attend at a conference they are going to. They decide to take potluck, meaning they will choose the sessions they want to attend based on which ones sound interesting as they go, rather than planning out their entire schedule in advance.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "take potluck" can be used to indicate taking a chance or participating in something with an uncertain outcome. It can also refer to sharing whatever is available without prior planning or coordination.

    Origin of "Take potluck"

    The origin of the idiom "take potluck" can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was originally used to describe a meal where the guests would bring their own food to share. The term "potluck" itself comes from the idea of taking whatever is available in the communal pot. Over time, the phrase evolved to also represent taking a chance or participating in something without knowing the outcome. This reflects the original idea of sharing what is available, as participants would bring whatever they had and take whatever was available in the communal pot. Today, the idiom is used in both contexts, to indicate taking a chance or to bring or contribute whatever is available for a meal or gathering.