give it one's best shot

• take one's best shot

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give it one's best shot (third-person singular simple present gives it one's best shot, present participle giving it one's best shot, simple past gave it one's best shot, past participle given it one's best shot)

1. (idiomatic) To make one's best effort or attempt; to try as hard as possible.

   Near-synonyms: give it the old college try; give one's all, go all out, pull out all the stops, do one's utmost, leave it all on the field, empty the tank

   I didn't win the contest, but I sure gave it my best shot.