202 - Expression: A Shot in the Dark episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 11, 2025 · 21 MIN

202 - Expression: A Shot in the Dark

from American English Podcast · host Shana Thompson

In today’s episode, we break down the common English expression “a shot in the dark,” which describes taking a guess or making an attempt with little to no information. You’ll hear where the idiom comes from, how people from the U.S. use it, and three real-life examples—from kids guessing ages, to ordering pintxos in Spain, to recreating Banana Kahlúa French toast (with no instructions!). We’ll also go over the joke of the day (“Why did the man take a ladder to the bar?”), cover some advanced terms and phrases, and finish with a pronunciation exercise focused on flap Ts. I highly recommend practicing them to sound more natural when speaking. At the end, I’ll challenge you to think of a moment when you took a shot in the dark. For the full transcript, glossary, and quiz, check out the Academy. Enjoy! Want to take your learning further?  ⭐ ⁠Visit the website⁠ for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content for this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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202 - Expression: A Shot in the Dark

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