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I want to compare two things, one of which is random and the other is not, in favor of the latter. I'd like to do it in a more sophisticated way than simply using the word "random". Like, for example,
But Google Ngrams doesn't find a single occurrence of "depend on the roll of the dice", so I guess there's something wrong with this particular phrase. What would be a better substitute? |
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There are many metaphoric phrases to indicate randomness, several of which relate to gaming
Some expressing lack of control suggest futility
Phrases suggesting a causation, rather than lack thereof, tend toward other images often based on scientific or mechanistic processes or human industry
A few dependability references do use gambling metaphors
Some are based on questions, occasionally scatalogical
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I guess the precise antonym to random is deterministic but you may prefer to go for some less scientific terms: predictable, systematic, methodical. As for other words for Random, Thesaurus suggests some nice alternatives on top of simple antonyms of the above: arbitrary, accidental, irregular, chance |
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arbitrary: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
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NGrams has a limit on how large a phrase can be. We certainly can see variants of the last part of that phrase being used, though it's hard to tell how many are literal and how many figurative. Still your phrase would certainly be understood. I might be a bit alarmed at the fact that the possibility of pay being random was mentioned, so it may be better to focus on the pay being not only predictable, but fair. But if the context had already set up that possibility, then your expression works perfectly. |
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