take a flyer

present singular third person takes a flyer · participle present taking a flyer · past took a flyer · participle past taken a flyer · alternative take a flier

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, flyer.
2. idiomaticTo invest against odds.

   The oldest girls are eagerly perusing the financial reports, for a certain young man remarked last Sunday night that he had taken a flyer in Q., X. & Z.

   1906, O. Henry, Man About Town

3. idiomaticTo make a choice with an uncertain outcome; to take a chance.

   In contrast, other leaders are almost totally risk-averse. They haven't taken a flyer in their adult life.

   2002, Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership, Zondervan, published 2002, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   Many voters said that while they liked Reform, they remembered having taken a flyer on Bob Rae and the NDP, a gamble they had come to regret.

   1997, Edward Greenspon, “Following the Trail of Campaign '97”, in Alan Frizzell, Jon H. Pammett, editors, The Canadian General Election of 1997, Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 36

   If you have an auction with no bids and a counter that reads a high number, newbie bidders may be dissuaded from taking a flyer and bidding on your auction.

   2006, Dan Matthews, Marsha Collier, Starting a Business on eBay.co.uk for Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, published 2006, →ISBN

   The Steelers essentially took a flyer on Brister since his track record consisted of one season leading a college team.

   2009, Lew Freedman, Dick Hoak, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History, MBI Publishing, published 2009, →ISBN, page 112

   Synonyms: roll the dice, take a gamble, take a risk