Definition of college try in US English:

noun

• A sincere effort or attempt at performing a difficult, or seemingly impossible, task.

  ‘the chances of overturning this decision are slim, but the Democrats will give it the old college try’

  More example sentences

  • ‘I'm afraid the explanation may be a snooze, since it's complicated, but hey - I had to give it the old college try.’
  • ‘And now two decades later he's giving it the old college try for a new reality show.’
  • ‘They made the old college try and failed, but good for them for trying!’
  • ‘So is it any wonder that the league is no longer so eager to give it the old college try?’
  • ‘Any of a dozen could have broken out and stolen the race, and two or three gave it the college try, including Closing Argument and Afleet Alex.’
  • ‘He gave it the college try, but… things just didn't jell for him here.’
  • ‘As an addendum, I also couldn't repair them and keep them working, although I would give it the old college try.’
  • ‘I saw that it featured some Nancy numbers with LEE HAZLEWOOD, and being an admirer of the latter & his duets with the former, I gave it the old college try.’
  • ‘CNN's Jeanne Moos also decided to give this thing the old college try.’
  • ‘Sure, there would be hockey in downtown St. Paul, but the sold-out Xcel Energy Center would be a place for moral victories and evenings spent watching the Wild giving it the old college try against better teams.’
  • ‘James gave it the good old college try and any opportunity to hear these songs is welcome, but the enterprise was always doomed to failure.’
  • ‘However, for those who haven't, give this disc the old college try.’
  • ‘Well, we gave it the old college try and nature gave the final decision.’
  • ‘I certainly would have given it the old college try.’
  • ‘At $100 or $200 a pop, however, it's hard to imagine customers shying away from at least giving Orion the old college try.’
  • ‘The shooting guard is still coping with pain after hernia surgery but plans to give it the old college try again this season.’
  • ‘We spoke with four sisters who gave it the old college try and, against all odds, earned their degrees.’
  • ‘But you can't say he didn't give it the old college try.’
  • ‘You can't say he isn't giving it the old college try though.’
  • ‘In the other regional Elite Eight match-up, Mizzou gave it the old college try but the Sooners were too much for this record-setting team to handle.’