english
1
general::
try out for sth
US
to compete for a position in a sports team or a part in a play
• Luke's trying out for the college football team., try sth out
[ M ]
to use something to discover if it works or if you like it
• Don't forget to try out the equipment before setting up the experiment., try for sth
to attempt to get something
• Are you going to try for that job in the sales department?, try sth on
[ M ]
to put on a piece of clothing to discover if it fits you or if you like it
• Try on the shoes to see if they fit.
• What a lovely dress - why don't you try it on for size (= to discover whether it fits) ?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
noun attempt ADJ. good, nice Never mind?it was a good try. Better luck next time. | another VERB + TRY have Can I have a try? | give sth It looks difficult, but let's give it a try. | be worth It may not work, but it's certainly worth a try. PREP. ~ at She's having another try at the marathon. scoring move in rugby ADJ. dazzling, excellent, good, great, splendid, superb, well-taken | opening | last-minute, late | decisive, winning | penalty | pushover VERB + TRY get, go over for, score | convert PREP. ~ against He scored three tries against New Zealand. | ~ by/from an excellent try by winger Neil LangSPORT, verb ADV. desperately, frantically, hard She was trying desperately to stay afloat. Sam was trying hard not to laugh. | gamely, manfully, valiantly trying valiantly to smile through her tears | clumsily clumsily trying to make amends | feebly | in vain, unsuccessfully, vainly VERB + TRY decide to I decided to try again. | be going to I hope you're not going to try and deny it. | be tempted to | be tempting to | let sb Can't you do it? Let me try. PHRASES be just/only trying to do sth I was just trying to help! | give up trying I've given up trying to persuade her. | try your best/hardest/utmost I tried my best not to laugh.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
verb
vex:
These are times that try men's souls.
verb
endeavor:
You must try to get there on time.
verb
test:
Try the motor and see if it works.
Simple Definitions
4
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with TRY, Also see OLD COLLEGE TRY. Also see under TRIED.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
try
adverbs
hard
• She was trying hard not to show her impatience.
desperately
• They try desperately to please other people.
unsuccessfully/in vain
• He has tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking.
try your best/hardest
(= make as much effort as possible )
• Try your best to block out other distractions.
try 2
verbs
have a try
• I decided to have one last try.
give it a try
informal
• If your instinct is telling you to give it a try, then go ahead.
be worth a try
(= be worth trying to do because you may succeed )
• It’s worth a try – we’ve nothing to lose.
adjectives
a good try
• ‘Do you really think you can win?’ ‘I’m going to have a darn good try.’
a nice try
(= a good try that is not successful )
• Nice try, Claudia, but not good enough, I’m afraid.
sb’s first/second try
• This is his first try at directing.
transnet.ir
6
general::
try
to take action in order to do something that you may not be able to do:
• I tried to explain what was wrong. • He tries hard in class, but he’s finding the work difficult.
attempt
to try to do something, especially something difficult. Attempt is more formal than try and is used especially in written English:
• Any prisoner who attempts to escape will be shot. • He was attempting to climb one of the world’s highest mountains.
do your best
to try as hard as you can to do something:
• We will do our best to help them.
make an effort to do something
to try to do something, when you find this difficult:
• It is worth making an effort to master these skills. • She made a big effort to be nice to him.
struggle
to try very hard to do something that is very difficult, especially for a long time:
• She’s still struggling to give up smoking. • Many of these families are struggling to survive.
strive
formal to try very hard to achieve something:
• The company must constantly strive for greater efficiency.
endeavour
British English , endeavor American English formal to try hard to do something:
• Each employee shall endeavour to provide customers with the best service possible.
have a go/try
informal to try to do something, especially when you are not sure that you will succeed:
• I’m not very good at fixing taps, but I’ll have a go. • Do you want to have another try?
see if you can do something
spoken to try to do something – used when offering to do something, or suggesting that someone should do something:
• I’ll see if I can get you a ticket. • See if you can persuade her to come.
Longman-Thesaurus
7
general::
Phrase(s): try something (on) (for size)
1. Lit. to put on an article of clothing to see if it fits. • Here, try this on for size and see if it fits any better. • Please try on this shirt for size. 2. Fig. to evaluate an idea or proposition. • Now, try on this idea. • Try this plan for size. I think you’ll like it.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs