take a shot
Give it a try
Take a shot means to attempt something, often with uncertain odds of success: I'll take a shot at fixing it myself.
The phrase comes from aiming a weapon or ball at a target—you might miss, but you try anyway.
It also means to drink a shot of liquor: Let's take a shot before we go.
To take a shot at someone is to criticize or attack them: He couldn't resist taking a shot at his rival.
- attemptEffort to accomplish
- give it a tryMake an effort
- tryMake an effort
- photographImage from a camera
- aimPurpose or direction
fire · pull the trigger · drink · whiskey · camera · risk · chance · gamble · hit or miss · nothing to lose · guess · snapshot · bullet · goal · score · basketball · tequila · dart
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, under the gun
- try phraseshave a go, try your luck, give it a whirl, make an effort, give it a try
- Drinking Slangdrunk, wasted, hammered, plastered, smashed
- Shooting termsfire away, ready aim fire, on target, bulls eye, dead center
take a shotplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
hold back · abstain · back down · chicken out · hedge your bets
take, shot, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, retake, retakes