give it one's best shot



give it one's best shot

Make one's hardest or most enthusiastic attempt, as in I don't know if I can do it, but I'll give it my best shot. This expression employs shot in the sense of "attempt," a usage dating from the mid-1700s.
See also: give, shot

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
GyÖRgyikeDYUUR-dyee-keHungarian
Benedito-Portuguese
Lieven-Flemish
Moana-Maori, Hawaiian
Antonela-Croatian
EsmÉEes-MAY (Dutch)English, Dutch