1. Home
2. Idioms
3. try on

try on

---

---

try on something

also try something on

to put on clothes to see how they look or fit Try on those shoes. It's silly to buy something that expensive without trying it on.

See also: on, try

try on

1. Test the fit or look of a garment by putting it on, as in Do you want to try on this dress? This expression is also put as try on for size, which is sometimes used figuratively, as in The teacher wanted to try the new method on for size before agreeing to use it. [Late 1600s]

2. Test the effectiveness or acceptability of something, as in The actors decided to try on the new play out of town. [Late 1800s] Also see try out.

See also: on, try

try on

v.

To put some garment on in order to determine if it fits: She went to the dressing room to try on the sweater. He tried the shoes on and said they were too tight.

See also: on, try