give something a shot

present singular third person gives something a shot · participle present giving something a shot · past gave something a shot · participle past 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.

   1 more example

   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