wild card

• Человек или вещь, которые непредсказуемы, неожиданны или трудно поддаются категоризации; также используется в вычислительной технике как символ, представляющий любой символ или набор символов.

A person or thing that is unpredictable, unexpected, or difficult to categorize; also used in computing as a symbol that represents any character or set of characters.

1. Unpredictable factorB2informal

   A person or thing whose behavior or effect is unpredictable and can change the outcome of a situation.

   Непредсказуемый фактор

   • He is the wild card in the election; no one knows how he will vote.
   • The weather is the wild card that could ruin our outdoor event.
   • In negotiations, a new offer can be a wild card that changes everything.

2. Sports entryB1formal

   A player or team allowed to compete in a tournament despite not meeting the normal qualifying standards.

   Уайлд-кард

   • The team received a wild card to the playoffs.
   • She entered the championship as a wild card and won.
   • Wild card entries often bring unexpected excitement to the competition.

3. Card gamesB1informal

   A playing card that can represent any other card in a game.

   Джокер

   • In poker, a joker is often used as a wild card.
   • He used his wild card to complete a straight.
   • The rules allow two wild cards in this game.