potluck

The China Daily website has this to say

"Pot" means pot, and "luck" means luck. Potluck, as a word, refers to a form of partying often held in the United States. It is a luncheon or dinner party held at the suggestion of one or more people, but everyone attending the party is required to bring a dish or an after-dinner dessert. The host, in addition to providing the venue for the party, only has to prepare a dish or buy some drinks. This is called "potluck lunch" or "potluck supper."

As you can imagine, there are many different kinds of food at a potluck. But if you're unlucky and several people bring something you don't like, you're out of luck.

Potluck has another meaning: to take what you can get. When used in the context of food, it means: what you have what you eat. For example, a man runs into an old friend he hasn't seen in years and says:

"Say, Charley, if you don't have plans for tonight, why don't you come out to our house and take potluck with you? our house and take potluck with us.Helen won't have time to cook anything special,but she can put an extra plate on the table for you. "Helen won't have time to cook anything special, but she can put an extra plate on the table for you.