give something a shot

Verb

give something a shot (third-person singular simple present gives something a shot, present participle giving something a shot, simple past gave something a shot, past participle given something a shot)

1. To try or attempt (something); to give something a try.
   • I don’t think it will work, but I suppose you could give restarting the computer a shot.
   • But the prospect of Harris at the top of the ticket was making him rethink that switch. Mr. Gaines now says he is open to at least considering her. “If Kamala steps up, that would change history,” he said. “I’d give her a shot.”2024 July 24, Jeremy W. Peters, Audra D. S. Burch, Clyde McGrady, quoting Nathan Gaines, “Black Voters Feel Excited, and Worried, about a Kamala Harris Campaign”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms:

   give something a go, have a go at something, give something a lash, have a lash at something, give something a try, have a try at something, give something the old college try, give something a whirl, take a crack at something, have a crack at something