take a run at

present singular third person takes a run at · participle present taking a run at · past took a run at · participle past taken a run at

1. idiomatictransitiveTo attempt to achieve or acquire.

   Through Monday, Honolulu has set record highs 8 days straight and could again take a run at a record today.

   2009 June 16, Bob Swanson, “Weather headlines”, in USA Today, retrieved 24 Sep 2012

   3 more examples

   "No one else has achieved the right knit of polyester Dacron fibers—lots of mills have taken a run at it."

   1989 November 26, Deborah Hofmann, “Fashion: Fluffy Outerwear Invades City Streets”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Sep 2012

   Cisco Chief Executive Officer John Chambers has scarcely hid the fact that his company is actively eyeing a number of acquisitions. At a luncheon in Toronto he felt compelled to deny recent speculation that Cisco would take a run at Canada's Nortel Networks.

   2001 October 3, “Faces In The News”, in forbes.com, retrieved 24 Sep 2012

   Dean told me that he understood he would have to grow as a candidate in order to succeed, that it was time to move his campaign beyond attacks and anger, to take a run at the vision thing.

   2003 November 9, Joe Klein, “Hectoring Is Not Leadership”, in Time

   Synonyms: have a go at, take a stab at

2. idiomatictransitiveTo attack or challenge or to try to attack or challenge.

   Like a tall dog who attacks a bear to remind himself he is still a tall dog, Ted Turner took a run at Rupert Murdoch last week.

   1998 March 22, Robert Lipsyte, “Backtalk: New Sign Of Spring—Murdoch”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Sep 2012

   1 more example

   Only one guy was brave enough to take a run at Tiger Woods at the British Open yesterday. . . . DiMarco finished two shots behind Woods.

   2006 July 24, Hank Gola, "Dimarco Eases Own Pain Eases Own Pain," New York Daily News (retrieved 24 2012)

   Synonyms: have a go at