What’s a good phrase or id­iom sim­i­lar to “go­ing in blind” or “jump­ing in the deep end”?











up vote
1
down vote

favorite












A while ago I had a con­ver­sa­tion with a col­league of mine, and
we’re talk­ing about an ap­pli­cant who ap­plied for a po­si­tion
that he does not have any back­ground knowl­edge of, no ex­pe­ri­ence
with the said field and com­plete­ly un­a­ware of what he is get­ting
him­self in­to.



He had not even done any re­search be­fore­hand and so did not
un­der­stand even the name of the po­si­tion. I said that he was
“point blank” with my col­league and we con­tin­ued our dis­cus­sion:
none of us no­ticed I had used the wrong id­iom/phrase.



Later tonight, I felt that some­thing was wrong and re­mem­bered
the phrase I used wrong­ly, so I tried to think of that spe­cif­ic
phrase that I meant to say but had failed to do so cor­rect­ly.
It’s sup­posed to mean some­thing like “go­ing in­to a gun­fight
emp­ty-hand­ed” or “tak­ing an ex­am with­out study­ing”.



Goo­gle not seem to help, and I don’t know any na­tive English
speak­ers in real life.



I post­ed this on red­dit, and got some real­ly close an­swers like
“Jump­ing in the deep end” or “Go­ing in blind” which are close to
what I was mean­ing to say cause it sup­posed to sound like go­ing
to reck­less­ly com­mit your­self in­to some­thing while be­ing
ig­no­rant of the things you’re about to en­count­er, or some­thing
like that.



But it still doesn’t sound right; can you help me find the phrase
I’m look­ing for?






phrase-requests idiom-requests aphorism-requests







share|improve this question
























  • I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
    – glytching
    Jul 18 '17 at 15:51










  • This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
    – Steve Lovell
    Jul 18 '17 at 17:07












  • Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago










  • Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago

















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












A while ago I had a con­ver­sa­tion with a col­league of mine, and
we’re talk­ing about an ap­pli­cant who ap­plied for a po­si­tion
that he does not have any back­ground knowl­edge of, no ex­pe­ri­ence
with the said field and com­plete­ly un­a­ware of what he is get­ting
him­self in­to.



He had not even done any re­search be­fore­hand and so did not
un­der­stand even the name of the po­si­tion. I said that he was
“point blank” with my col­league and we con­tin­ued our dis­cus­sion:
none of us no­ticed I had used the wrong id­iom/phrase.



Later tonight, I felt that some­thing was wrong and re­mem­bered
the phrase I used wrong­ly, so I tried to think of that spe­cif­ic
phrase that I meant to say but had failed to do so cor­rect­ly.
It’s sup­posed to mean some­thing like “go­ing in­to a gun­fight
emp­ty-hand­ed” or “tak­ing an ex­am with­out study­ing”.



Goo­gle not seem to help, and I don’t know any na­tive English
speak­ers in real life.



I post­ed this on red­dit, and got some real­ly close an­swers like
“Jump­ing in the deep end” or “Go­ing in blind” which are close to
what I was mean­ing to say cause it sup­posed to sound like go­ing
to reck­less­ly com­mit your­self in­to some­thing while be­ing
ig­no­rant of the things you’re about to en­count­er, or some­thing
like that.



But it still doesn’t sound right; can you help me find the phrase
I’m look­ing for?






phrase-requests idiom-requests aphorism-requests







share|improve this question
























  • I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
    – glytching
    Jul 18 '17 at 15:51










  • This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
    – Steve Lovell
    Jul 18 '17 at 17:07












  • Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago










  • Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











A while ago I had a con­ver­sa­tion with a col­league of mine, and
we’re talk­ing about an ap­pli­cant who ap­plied for a po­si­tion
that he does not have any back­ground knowl­edge of, no ex­pe­ri­ence
with the said field and com­plete­ly un­a­ware of what he is get­ting
him­self in­to.



He had not even done any re­search be­fore­hand and so did not
un­der­stand even the name of the po­si­tion. I said that he was
“point blank” with my col­league and we con­tin­ued our dis­cus­sion:
none of us no­ticed I had used the wrong id­iom/phrase.



Later tonight, I felt that some­thing was wrong and re­mem­bered
the phrase I used wrong­ly, so I tried to think of that spe­cif­ic
phrase that I meant to say but had failed to do so cor­rect­ly.
It’s sup­posed to mean some­thing like “go­ing in­to a gun­fight
emp­ty-hand­ed” or “tak­ing an ex­am with­out study­ing”.



Goo­gle not seem to help, and I don’t know any na­tive English
speak­ers in real life.



I post­ed this on red­dit, and got some real­ly close an­swers like
“Jump­ing in the deep end” or “Go­ing in blind” which are close to
what I was mean­ing to say cause it sup­posed to sound like go­ing
to reck­less­ly com­mit your­self in­to some­thing while be­ing
ig­no­rant of the things you’re about to en­count­er, or some­thing
like that.



But it still doesn’t sound right; can you help me find the phrase
I’m look­ing for?






phrase-requests idiom-requests aphorism-requests







share|improve this question















A while ago I had a con­ver­sa­tion with a col­league of mine, and
we’re talk­ing about an ap­pli­cant who ap­plied for a po­si­tion
that he does not have any back­ground knowl­edge of, no ex­pe­ri­ence
with the said field and com­plete­ly un­a­ware of what he is get­ting
him­self in­to.



He had not even done any re­search be­fore­hand and so did not
un­der­stand even the name of the po­si­tion. I said that he was
“point blank” with my col­league and we con­tin­ued our dis­cus­sion:
none of us no­ticed I had used the wrong id­iom/phrase.



Later tonight, I felt that some­thing was wrong and re­mem­bered
the phrase I used wrong­ly, so I tried to think of that spe­cif­ic
phrase that I meant to say but had failed to do so cor­rect­ly.
It’s sup­posed to mean some­thing like “go­ing in­to a gun­fight
emp­ty-hand­ed” or “tak­ing an ex­am with­out study­ing”.



Goo­gle not seem to help, and I don’t know any na­tive English
speak­ers in real life.



I post­ed this on red­dit, and got some real­ly close an­swers like
“Jump­ing in the deep end” or “Go­ing in blind” which are close to
what I was mean­ing to say cause it sup­posed to sound like go­ing
to reck­less­ly com­mit your­self in­to some­thing while be­ing
ig­no­rant of the things you’re about to en­count­er, or some­thing
like that.



But it still doesn’t sound right; can you help me find the phrase
I’m look­ing for?






phrase-requests idiom-requests aphorism-requests




phrase-requests idiom-requests aphorism-requests






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago









tchrist♦

108k28290463




108k28290463










asked Jul 18 '17 at 15:39









rednryt

135




135












  • I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
    – glytching
    Jul 18 '17 at 15:51










  • This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
    – Steve Lovell
    Jul 18 '17 at 17:07












  • Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago










  • Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago




















  • I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
    – glytching
    Jul 18 '17 at 15:51










  • This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
    – Steve Lovell
    Jul 18 '17 at 17:07












  • Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago










  • Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 hours ago


















I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
– glytching
Jul 18 '17 at 15:51




I think "jumping in at the deep end" and "going in blind" are valid, they both connote a lack of awareness of what the protagonist faces and, by extension, imply some recklessness. Of these, the former addresses the potential recklessness more clearly, with its implications of drowning. Can you explain why neither of these answers suffice?
– glytching
Jul 18 '17 at 15:51












This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
– Steve Lovell
Jul 18 '17 at 17:07






This might be useful, english.stackexchange.com/questions/38103/…
– Steve Lovell
Jul 18 '17 at 17:07














Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 hours ago




Next time could you leave out all before "… something like 'going into a gunfight empty-handed' or 'taking an exam without studying…" and start with something useful, please?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 hours ago












Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 hours ago






Further, when 'Jumping in the deep end' or 'Going in blind' are close; when what you meant to say sounded like going to recklessly commit yourself into something while being ignorant of what you're about to (any sense or whatever)... but it still doesn't sound right, what does it sound like?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
1
down vote













A few possible idioms that come to mind are:



"Rushing in where angels fear to tread" (line from Alexander Pope, leaving implicit that the rushing is done by a fool). This seems better than "jumping in the deep end", which speaks more of courage than clueless bravado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_rush_in_where_angels_fear_to_tread



"Like a bull in a china store", implying a total and inexcusable lack of awareness.



"All guts and no brains", similar to the first one. This would be a play on the idiom "All brawn and no brains" quote by JFK (which I can't find a link to, sorry).






share|improve this answer





















  • Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
    – Kace36
    Jul 18 '17 at 23:46


















up vote
-2
down vote













Going into a gunfight with a knife






share|improve this answer








New contributor




user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.














    Your Answer








    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "97"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f400543%2fwhat-s-a-good-phrase-or-id-iom-sim-i-lar-to-go-ing-in-blind-or-jump-ing-in-th%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    1
    down vote













    A few possible idioms that come to mind are:



    "Rushing in where angels fear to tread" (line from Alexander Pope, leaving implicit that the rushing is done by a fool). This seems better than "jumping in the deep end", which speaks more of courage than clueless bravado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_rush_in_where_angels_fear_to_tread



    "Like a bull in a china store", implying a total and inexcusable lack of awareness.



    "All guts and no brains", similar to the first one. This would be a play on the idiom "All brawn and no brains" quote by JFK (which I can't find a link to, sorry).






    share|improve this answer





















    • Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
      – Kace36
      Jul 18 '17 at 23:46















    up vote
    1
    down vote













    A few possible idioms that come to mind are:



    "Rushing in where angels fear to tread" (line from Alexander Pope, leaving implicit that the rushing is done by a fool). This seems better than "jumping in the deep end", which speaks more of courage than clueless bravado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_rush_in_where_angels_fear_to_tread



    "Like a bull in a china store", implying a total and inexcusable lack of awareness.



    "All guts and no brains", similar to the first one. This would be a play on the idiom "All brawn and no brains" quote by JFK (which I can't find a link to, sorry).






    share|improve this answer





















    • Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
      – Kace36
      Jul 18 '17 at 23:46













    up vote
    1
    down vote










    up vote
    1
    down vote









    A few possible idioms that come to mind are:



    "Rushing in where angels fear to tread" (line from Alexander Pope, leaving implicit that the rushing is done by a fool). This seems better than "jumping in the deep end", which speaks more of courage than clueless bravado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_rush_in_where_angels_fear_to_tread



    "Like a bull in a china store", implying a total and inexcusable lack of awareness.



    "All guts and no brains", similar to the first one. This would be a play on the idiom "All brawn and no brains" quote by JFK (which I can't find a link to, sorry).






    share|improve this answer












    A few possible idioms that come to mind are:



    "Rushing in where angels fear to tread" (line from Alexander Pope, leaving implicit that the rushing is done by a fool). This seems better than "jumping in the deep end", which speaks more of courage than clueless bravado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_rush_in_where_angels_fear_to_tread



    "Like a bull in a china store", implying a total and inexcusable lack of awareness.



    "All guts and no brains", similar to the first one. This would be a play on the idiom "All brawn and no brains" quote by JFK (which I can't find a link to, sorry).







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Jul 18 '17 at 15:54









    Ian

    1567




    1567












    • Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
      – Kace36
      Jul 18 '17 at 23:46


















    • Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
      – Kace36
      Jul 18 '17 at 23:46
















    Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
    – Kace36
    Jul 18 '17 at 23:46




    Also, "jumping in head first". Similar to jumping in the deep end. Both are used to mean one of 2 things: either "think before you leap" OR "just go for it" (without the negative connotation that you haven't thought it through)
    – Kace36
    Jul 18 '17 at 23:46












    up vote
    -2
    down vote













    Going into a gunfight with a knife






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.








    We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.


















      up vote
      -2
      down vote













      Going into a gunfight with a knife






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.








      We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
















        up vote
        -2
        down vote










        up vote
        -2
        down vote









        Going into a gunfight with a knife






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        Going into a gunfight with a knife







        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer






        New contributor




        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered 2 hours ago









        user327798

        1




        1




        New contributor




        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.





        New contributor





        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        user327798 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.



        We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.




        We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.































            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid …



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





            Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


            Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid …



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f400543%2fwhat-s-a-good-phrase-or-id-iom-sim-i-lar-to-go-ing-in-blind-or-jump-ing-in-th%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            -

            Popular posts from this blog

            What visual should I use to simply compare current year value vs last year in Power BI desktop

            Image
            0 I have column SubToBind that shows current year ratio and column PY SubToBind which shows previous year ratio. How can I simply create a card that would be displaying them both in a nice way? Something like that: I cannot achieve that with regular card, I also tried Card with States by OKViz but also unable to see both values. In KPI visual - I dont like the word "Goal", it will confuse end users. Are there any cards or other visuals that would do the job? Thanks powerbi dax powerbi-embedded share | improve this question edited Jun 11 '18 at 20:11 Oleg ...
            Read more

            How to ignore python UserWarning in pytest?

            Image
            up vote 1 down vote favorite I am using openpyxl for parsing .xlsm files, and pytest for testing. When I open a file, I get the: OpenPyxl -> UserWarning: Data Validation extension is not supported and will be removed That is not really a problem bcs. program works and I can't change the .xlsm file to fix that. But... When I run pytest with something like: def test_wrong_file_format(): assert check_excel(open_excel('file.xlsm')) == True I will get the warning i mentioned altought check_excel(open_excel('file.xlsm')) returns True and the test should suceed... Is there a nice way to tell the pytest that "It's not a bug it's a feature" and tests should pass even when they get this warning? Is there other way than using something like: with pytest.warns(UserWarning): ...
            Read more

            Alexandru Averescu

            Image
            Alexandre Averescu Alexandru Averescu Naissance 3 avril 1859 Babele, Ismail  (ro) près de Izmaïl (principauté de Moldavie) Décès 2 octobre 1938 (à 79 ans) [ 1 ] Bucarest Origine   Roumanie Arme cavalerie Grade Maréchal Années de service 1901-1917 Commandement chef d'état-major général 2 e  armée 3 e  armée Groupe d'armée sud armée du Danube Conflits Guerre russo-turque de 1877-1878 Deuxième guerre balkanique Première Guerre mondiale Faits d'armes Bataille de Turtucaia/Tutrakan Bataille de Mărăști Distinctions Autres fonctions 3 fois président du Conseil des ministres ministre des Affaires étrangères ministre sans portefeuille conseiller de la Couronne modifier   Alexandre Averescu (en roumain : Alexandru Averescu .mw-parser-output .prononciation>a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png")center ...
            Read more