take a stab at en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To attempt or try.
Would you like to take a stab at explaining the theory?
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:
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(idiomatic) To guess about.
I'll take a stab at the answer, but I don't really know for sure.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, stab.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| took a stab at | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| takes a stab at | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| taken a stab at | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| taking a stab at | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
give something a go · take a run at · take a crack at · give something a try