Idioms for try
- to put on airs: She's been trying it on ever since the inheritance came through.
- to be forward or presumptuous, especially with a member of the opposite sex: She avoided him after he'd tried it on with her.
give it the old college try, Informal.
to make a sincere effort: I gave it the old college try and finally found an apartment.
try it/that on, Chiefly British Informal.
Origin of try
1250–1300; Middle English
trien to try (a legal case) < Anglo-French
trier, Old French: to sift, cull, of uncertain origin
SYNONYMS FOR try
1, 10
Try,
attempt,
endeavor,
strive all mean to put forth an effort toward a specific end.
Try is the most often used and most general term:
to try to decipher a message; to try hard to succeed.
Attempt, often interchangeable with
try, sometimes suggests the possibility of failure and is often used in reference to more serious or important matters:
to attempt to formulate a new theory of motion.
Endeavor emphasizes serious and continued exertion of effort, sometimes aimed at dutiful or socially appropriate behavior:
to endeavor to fulfill one's obligations.
Strive, stresses persistent, vigorous, even strenuous effort, often in the face of obstacles:
to strive to overcome a handicap.
usage note for try
10.
Try followed by
and instead of
to has been in standard use since the 17th century:
The Justice Department has decided to try and regulate jury-selection practices. The construction occurs only with the base form
try, not with
tries or
tried or
trying. Although some believe that
try and is less formal than
try to, both patterns occur in all types of speech and writing.
OTHER WORDS FROM try
pre·try, verb (used with object), pre·tried, pre·try·ing. re·try, verb, re·tried, re·try·ing.Words nearby try
British Dictionary definitions for try out (1 of 2)
try out
verb (adverb)
(tr)
to test or put to experimental use
I'm going to try the new car out
(when intr, usually foll by for) US and Canadian
(of an athlete, actor, etc) to undergo a test or to submit (an athlete, actor, etc) to a test to determine suitability for a place in a team, an acting role, etc
noun tryout
mainly US and Canadian
a trial or test, as of an athlete or actor
British Dictionary definitions for try out (2 of 2)
try
/ (traɪ) /
verb tries, trying or tried
noun plural tries
Word Origin for try
C13: from Old French
trier to sort, sift, of uncertain origin
usage for try
The use of
and instead of
to after
try is very common, but should be avoided in formal writing:
we must try to prevent (not
try and prevent)
this happening
Medical definitions for try out
Try
abbr.
tryptophan
Idioms and Phrases with try out (1 of 2)
try out
Undergo a qualifying test, as for an athletic team. For example, I'm trying out for the basketball team. [Mid-1900s]
Test or use experimentally, as in They're trying out new diesels, or We're trying out this new margarine. [Late 1800s]
Idioms and Phrases with try out (2 of 2)
try