It’s anyone’s call

Meaning

The idiom "it’s anyone’s call" means that the outcome of a situation or event is uncertain, and anyone could win or lose equally. It expresses the idea that there are no strong indications of who will come out on top in a particular situation, making it too close to call.

The literal meaning of the idiom is that the result of a contest or competition is unknown and could go either way. In a figurative sense, the phrase is used to describe situations where there are multiple factors at play and no clear winner or loser can be identified.

Usage

• "It's anyone's call who will win the election this year."
• "The outcome of the football game is too close to call."
• "I can't predict who will win this legal battle; it's anyone's call."
• "The weather forecast for tomorrow is uncertain, and it could start raining at any moment."
• "It's anyone's call which candidate will get the job."

Roots and History

The idiom has its roots in English literature dating back to the 16th century. It was first used in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1598, where it was defined as "unable to be decided by anyone". Over time, the phrase has come to be used more widely to describe any situation that is uncertain or difficult to predict.

Synonyms in English

• The outcome is up for grabs.
• It's a toss-up.
• The decision is in the air.
• It's an open question.
• It's a matter of chance.

Synonyms in other languages

• En français: "Il est tout à fait possible qu'il s'agisse d'un affaire de détail".
• En allemand: "Der Ausgang ist noch nicht entschieden".
• In italiano: "L'esito è ancora sconosciuto".
• In Spanish: "El resultado todavía se desconoce".
• In Portuguese: "O resultado é ainda incerto".

Similar Idioms

• it’s not brain surgery

• in one’s blood

• in the nick of time