Opinions & arguments

give something a real shot

make a serious attempt

To make a serious attempt to succeed at something.

B2 common mostly spoken

expression

Hear it in real life

Are you going to apply for the job?

Yes, I think I should give it a real shot.

Play the conversation

I had never cooked for a large group, but I decided to give it a real shot.

The mistake everyone makes

Not: I gave it a real ~~shot to learn the guitar.~~

Say: I gave learning the guitar a real shot.

Name the activity as the thing receiving the attempt, rather than using “to” plus an infinitive after “shot.”

Build it

How it fits in a sentence.

give something a real shot; give it a real shot

Your turn: say it out loud

I had never cooked for a large group, but I decided to give it a real shot.

Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.

give something a real shot

make a serious attempt

“I had never cooked for a large group, but I decided to give it a real shot.”

heytardy

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