The phrase "fall to lot" is pronounced as /fɔːl tə lɒt/. The spelling of the word "fall" is straightforward, but "lot" can be confusing as it seems to be pronounced as "lott". However, it is pronounced with a "short o" sound, as in "lottery". The phrase means to be assigned by chance or luck, usually in the context of a task or responsibility. It is commonly used in situations where a group of people are competing for something, and the winner is determined randomly.
"Fall to lot" is an idiomatic expression that originates from the concept of casting lots or drawing straws. It is typically used to describe how something or someone is selected or allotted by chance or luck, without any deliberate intention or preference.
In a literal sense, "fall to lot" refers to drawing lots or using a random selection process to determine a course of action or assign a task. It implies that the decision is dependent on chance, with each possible outcome having an equal probability. This expression is often used in situations where a fair and unbiased method is required to designate a role or distribute resources among a group of individuals.
However, "fall to lot" is more commonly used metaphorically to describe when someone is assigned or obliged to undertake a particular task, responsibility, or position due to unforeseen circumstances or chance occurrences. It suggests that the outcome was beyond the person's control or their desired outcome, and instead, it was determined by external factors or random chance.
In summary, "fall to lot" refers to a situation where something or someone is selected or assigned by chance or fate, rather than through a deliberate decision-making process. It conveys the idea that the outcome is determined by random luck or external factors, emphasizing the lack of preferred choice or intentional decision in the matter.