When can there be a stab in the dark without a knife? Rob explains to Feifei that a phrase used to describe what's happened to a missing work colleague, has nothing to do with murder.
Rob
Welcome to The English We Speak with me Rob and …. oh… oh… Feifei… Feifei, where are you?
Feifei
Hi… hi… over here… come quickly.
Rob
Oh… oh… what seems to be the problem?
Feifei
I think there's been a murder!
Rob
What?! Really—a murder, here? How can you be so sure?
Feifei
Well, last night I was speaking to my friend and we were talking about Jenny from our office…
Rob
Oh yes Jenny, I haven't seen her around for a while … so?
Feifei
My friend said Jenny has probably met someone, got married and moved to Australia—but then she said something very strange, she said it was 'a stab in the dark'.
Rob
'A stab in the dark'? Ha—so you think she's been murdered?
Feifei
Well possibly—she hasn't been seen for a long time and then someone was stabbed—and in the dark—so she must have been murdered at night. Oh dear, I think we should call the police!
Rob
No, don't call them yet. That phrase isn't as bad as you think. There's not been a murder. When you say you are 'taking a stab in the dark' it means you don't really know the truth and you are just guessing.
Feifei
Really? Oh phew. That is good news.
Rob
Ok. Let's hear the phrase in action…
Examples
It might be a stab in the dark but I think my football team is in a good place to win the league this season.
I don't know how many people came to see the show, but I'll take a stab in the dark and say about 300.
John thought we could sell our old car for £500—but really he was taking a stab in the dark!
Feifei
So the phrase 'to take a stab in the dark' does not involve stabbing people! But Rob, if we're not sure what did happen to Jenny, it's still a bit of mystery.
Rob
Well maybe she didn't move to Australia… maybe she just got a new job… but I'm just taking a shot in the dark.
Feifei
A shot in the dark! Now you're talking about her being shot in the dark?
Rob
No no no no—a shot—or a stab in the dark means the same thing—it means I'm guessing—I don't really know.
Feifei
Well guess no longer—look, here she comes!
Jenny
Hello you two.
Rob
Jenny!
Jenny
Why are you looking so worried—has someone died?!!
Rob
Bye!
Feifei
Bye bye!