1
general::
Phrase(s): *a try at someone [and] *a shot at someone; *a crack at someone; *a go at someone *a stab at someone
an attempt to convince someone of something; an attempt to try to get information out of someone; an attempt to try to train someone to do something. (The expressions with shot and crack are more informal than the main entry phrase. (*Typically: take ~; have ~; give someone ~.) • Let me have a crack at him. I can make him talk. • Let the new teacher have a try at Billy. She can do marvels with unwilling learners. • Give me a crack at him. I know how to make these bums talk., Phrase(s): *a try at something [and] *a shot at something; *a crack at something; *a go at something; *a stab at something; *a whack at something
to take a turn at trying to do something. (*Typically: take ~; have ~; give someone ~.) • All of us wanted to have a try at the prize-winning shot. • Let Sally have a shot at it. • If you let me have a crack at it, maybe I can be successful.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs