toss a coin

1. Literally, to throw a coin into the air, with the outcome of something dependent on which side of the coin lands face-up. My brother and I used to toss a coin to decide everything when we were kids.

2. By extension, to give something over to chance, especially when two outcomes are equally likely. At this point, we're just tossing a coin whether the car will get us the whole way to Denver or not.

toss a ˈcoin

ˈtoss for something

(especially British English) (also flip a ˈcoin, ˈflip for something usually both American English ) throw a coin in the air in order to decide something: Right, who’s going to wash the dishes tonight? Shall we toss a coin?

Before the coin is thrown, one person chooses either ‘heads’ (= the side of the coin marked with a head) or ‘tails’ (= the other side). If the side chosen lands upwards this person wins the toss and the other person loses.

See also: coin, toss

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

The clubs prefer to toss a coin for which of their grounds should stage the tie - but the Macaulay Association is insisting on a neutral venue.

Rivals plan joint protest

"I said the night before I had to decide I'd toss a coin and it landed on the side to go to the club in the UK so I tossed it another 49 times!

A FLIPPING GREAT DECISION, BILLY

Law 13.4 states: 13.4 The toss The captains shall toss a coin for the choice of innings, on the field of play and in the presence of one or both of the umpires, not earlier than 30 minutes, nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled or any rescheduled time for the start of play.

Tossing with a bat is not a very new practice

After failing to meet an agreement over the right candidate for a reserved seat for women in the Balochistan Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Balochistan National Party (BNP) have decided to toss a coin, media reports said.

PTI, BNP to toss a coin to decide Balochistan reserved seat

Mr Appleyard, who was 22, had just bumped into his friend, Jeffrey Jackson, so the pair decided to toss a coin to decide who would ask Cynthia, 19, to go on a date to the Tudor cinema.

Chance meeting led to diamond day

Phelan further said that the former Old Trafford boss was probably not the only manager to toss a coin to pick a player to leave them out, adding that it is one of the hardest things for a manager to say to a player that they are not involved in a particular game after a hard week's training.

Phelan reveals Fergie would flip coin to pick Man U team when in doubt!

In Barangay Agnonoc in Ferrol, a sixth-class fishing town, candidates Angelito Gara and Lorna Gervacio agreed to toss a coin after both got 126 votes in Monday's barangay elections and tied for the seventh seat in the village council.

Coin toss comes in handy to break ties in barangay polls

"On the Saturday morning, Rajen and his mum went along to King Henry School and as there was just one place open and two players looking to fill that spot, it was decided to toss a coin to decide who took the available space.

Late entry Rajen takes title chance; JUNIOR SPORT

I asked him to toss a coin and I think he tossed it until he got Don't Push It."

THE REAL McCoy; Bookies cough up pounds 50m after jockey lands elusive win

"We certainly don't relish the thought of travelling over to Kibworth, watching the rain come down and then toss a coin."

Cricket: Green to appeal if rain strikes again; CLUB CRICKET

It's customary to toss a coin before kick-off to decide who plays which end, but FA Cup rivals Liverpool and West Ham have gone further.

Wales News Bulletin West Ham win 'lucky' hotel

If you want to decide which football team takes the ball first or who gets the larger piece of cake, the fairest thing is to toss a coin, right?

Toss out the toss-up: bias in heads-or-tails

Cleveland and Atlanta must toss a coin for the seventh pick.

NFL: Pats get two picks

The referee will toss a coin with the two captains.

Shield could go to a shoot-out