give it a shot

Meaning

This casual idiom means to try or attempt to do something, especially when you are not sure if you will succeed. It has an encouraging, positive, and informal tone. It is commonly used to motivate someone to take a risk or try a new experience.

Examples

• I've never tried sushi before, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

  I've never tried sushi before, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

• If you want to learn how to play guitar, you should just give it a shot.

  If you want to learn how to play guitar, you should just give it a shot.

• The puzzle looks difficult, but let's give it a shot anyway.

  The puzzle looks difficult, but let's give it a shot anyway.

• She didn't think she would get the job, but she decided to give it a shot.

  She didn't think she would get the job, but she decided to give it a shot.

• I don't know if this software will fix the problem, but let's give it a shot.

  I don't know if this software will fix the problem, but let's give it a shot.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to make it a shot.

  ✓ I want to give it a shot.

  The verb must be 'give', not 'make'. Collocations with 'shot' meaning attempt always use 'give' or 'take'.

• ✗ I will give a shot to learning Spanish.

  ✓ I will give learning Spanish a shot.

  When adding an action, 'give [something] a shot' is the correct structure, or simply 'give it a shot' followed by an infinitive. Avoid placing 'to' directly after 'give a shot' in this manner.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Even if you're afraid of failing, you should still ___.

  💡 Try it

  Show answer

  give it a shot

• I've never skied before, but I'm going to ___ this weekend.

  💡 Attempt it for the first time

  Show answer

  give it a shot