1.
hit or miss, inconsistency in quality
Variation in quality or outcome where results can be either good or bad. Often used to describe products, restaurants, or services that are unpredictable in quality.
この店は当たり外れがある。
This shop is hit or miss.
安いワインは当たり外れが大きい。
Cheap wine varies greatly in quality.
このブランドは当たり外れがないから、安心して買える。
This brand is consistently good, so you can buy with confidence.
USAGE:
Most commonly used in the pattern 当たり外れがある (there is inconsistency) or 当たり外れが大きい (the variation is large). The negative 当たり外れがない means consistently good — there are no misses.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 当たり外れがある: to be hit or miss
- 当たり外れが大きい: to have wide variation in quality
- 当たり外れがない: to be consistently good
- 当たり外れが激しい: to vary wildly in quality