Something hit-and-miss is done in a way that is not planned or steady: it works well one time and poorly the next, so you cannot count on it. A hit-and-miss restaurant might give you a wonderful plate on Tuesday and a sad one on Friday.

hit-and-miss 的 Something東西 is done in a way that做起來的方式 is not planned or steady沒計畫也不穩定：it它 one time這一次 works well很順、and the next下一次 poorly就很糟，so所以 you你 cannot count on it沒辦法指望它。A hit-and-miss restaurant一家 hit-and-miss 的餐廳 might可能 on Tuesday星期二 give you給你 a wonderful plate很棒的一盤，and on Friday星期五 a sad one卻是令人難過的一盤。

British English likes hit-and-miss; American English often says hit-or-miss for the same idea — both are fine, and people mix them. It is informal.

British English英式英語 likes愛用 hit-and-miss；American English美式英語 for the same idea表達同個意思 often says常說 hit-or-miss——both兩種 are fine都可以，and people人們 mix them也會混著用。It它 is informal是口語。

Though actually, it does not mean you tried and failed. It means the results jump around. There is also an old machine sense, a hit-and-miss engine that fires only when it needs to, but you will meet that only in specialist talk.

Though actually不過其實，it does not mean它的意思不是 you tried and failed你試了然後失敗。It means它的意思是 the results結果 jump around跳來跳去。There is also另外還有 an old machine sense一個舊的機械義，a hit-and-miss engine一種 hit-and-miss 引擎，only when it needs to只在需要時 fires才點火，but但 you你 only in specialist talk只會在專門的行話裡 will meet that遇到它。