take a stab at

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English

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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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

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