take a swing
idiom
: to try to hit something
Some drunk took a swing at me.
The batter took a swing at the first pitch.
Examples of take a swing in a Sentence
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Whether or not the Avs just try to add a defenseman or two ahead of the deadline as depth pieces, or actually take a swing at landing someone who could play every night — either pushing one of the current top six out of the lineup or onto another team in a trade — remains to be seen.
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Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
That determination will be largely made by the new defensive coordinator, but an intriguing couple of names at the top of the safety position in the draft class could lead Dallas to take a swing in the first round at that position instead.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
But the Patriots also owe it to themselves to take a swing and try to add a couple of players before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Phoenix is currently terrible and has every incentive to take a swing if there’s even a 10 percent chance that its ceiling can be reached sometime in the next five years.
—Ricardo Sandoval, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
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Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
That determination will be largely made by the new defensive coordinator, but an intriguing couple of names at the top of the safety position in the draft class could lead Dallas to take a swing in the first round at that position instead.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
But the Patriots also owe it to themselves to take a swing and try to add a couple of players before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Phoenix is currently terrible and has every incentive to take a swing if there’s even a 10 percent chance that its ceiling can be reached sometime in the next five years.
—Ricardo Sandoval, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take a swing
Cite this Entry
“Take a swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20swing. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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