The phrase "going by guess and by God" refers to a decision made with uncertainty or without proper knowledge. The word "guess" is pronounced /ɡɛs/, with the "g" sounding like a "j" in "just" and the "e" sounding like the "e" in "pet". "God" is pronounced /ɡɑd/ with a long "o" sound in the vowel. The phrase is often spelled as a colloquialism and has variations such as "going by guesstimation" or "going by the seat of one's pants."
Going by guess and by God is an idiomatic expression that refers to a situation in which one is making decisions or taking actions in an unreliable or improvised manner, lacking any solid knowledge or clear guidance. It implies a reliance on intuition, hunches, or guesswork, often due to a lack of available information or a plan. The phrase underscores the absence of concrete evidence or a coherent strategy, leaving one to rely on their own judgment or pure luck.
This idiomatic expression is commonly used to describe a situation in which someone takes a leap of faith, makes a judgment call, or proceeds with a course of action without any certainty or assurance regarding the outcome. It suggests that the individual is acting without any real basis or methodology, perhaps resorting to mere speculation or arbitrary decisions. "Going by guess and by God" sets the tone for a risky and unpredictable endeavor, where the outcome is uncertain and success is largely dependent on chance.
However, it is important to note that this expression carries a somewhat informal and colloquial tone, commonly used in casual conversations rather than in formal discourse. It conveys a sense of uncertainty, randomness, and impromptu decision-making, making it a fitting phrase to describe situations where one has neither a clear plan nor reliable information.