take a stab at

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

1. idiomaticTo attempt or try.

   Would you like to take a stab at explaining the theory?

   1 more example

   Jimmy Carter is the third President in a row to take a stab at reforming the “welfare mess” — an almost obligatory pejorative of political oratory.

   1978 July 9, Robert Lekachman, “Welfare Needs Help”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms: take a crack at, take a run at, give something a go, give something a try

2. idiomaticTo guess about.

   I'll take a stab at the answer, but I don't really know for sure.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, stab.