take a stab at

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

take a stab at (third-person singular simple present takes a stab at, present participle taking a stab at, simple past took a stab at, past participle taken a stab at)

1. (idiomatic) To attempt or try.

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

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

     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.

2. (idiomatic) To guess.

   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.

Synonyms

• (attempt or try): take a run at, give something a go, give something a try, give something a stab