ˌpot ˈluck British English, pot‧luck American English /ˌpɒtˈlʌk◂ $ ˌpɑːt-/ noun

1. take pot luck
a) to choose something without knowing very much about it, and hope that it will be what you want:
We hadn’t booked a hotel so we had to take pot luck.
b) to have a meal at someone’s home in which you eat whatever they have available, rather than food which has been specially bought for the occasion:
I’m not sure what there is in the fridge – you’ll have to take pot luck.

2. [countable] American English a meal in which everyone who is invited brings something to eat:
Can you bring a salad? It’s a potluck.
potluck meal/dinner etc
a potluck supper at the church

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲