give something a shot

English

Verb

give something a shot (third-person singular simple present gives something a shot, present participle giving something a shot, simple past gave something a shot, past participle given something a shot)

1. Try or attempt (something); to give something a try.

   I don’t think it will work, but I suppose you could give restarting the computer a shot.

   • 2024 July 24, Jeremy W. Peters, Audra D. S. Burch, Clyde McGrady, quoting Nathan Gaines, “Black Voters Feel Excited, and Worried, about a Kamala Harris Campaign”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     But the prospect of Harris at the top of the ticket was making him rethink that switch. Mr. Gaines now says he is open to at least considering her. “If Kamala steps up, that would change history,” he said. “I’d give her a shot.”