try

try (something) for size

To try, use, or consider something in order to make a decision or form an opinion about it. Likened to putting on a garment to see if it fits. Sometimes used as a rhetorical imperative to behold an extreme example of something. The whole point of test driving a car is to try it for size to see if you feel comfortable in it. Too hungry for a regular burger? Try this for size! It's eight patties!
See also: size, try

try (something) on for size

To try, use, or consider something in order to make a decision or form an opinion about it. Likened to putting on a garment to see if it fits. Sometimes used as a rhetorical imperative to behold an extreme example of something. The whole point of test driving a car is to try it on for size to see if you feel comfortable in it. Too hungry for a regular burger? Try this on for size! It's eight patties!
See also: on, size, try

try on

1. Literally, to put on a garment or other wearable item to see if it fits. A noun or pronoun can be used between "try" and "on." I'm going to try on this dress to see if it fits, because it's on sale for an incredible price. I'm so glad you like the ring! You should try it on in case we need to get it resized.
2. By extension, to try, use, or consider something in order to make a decision or form an opinion about it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "try" and "on." Sometimes expanded to the phrase "try (something) on for size." The boss is trying on a new approach to communicating with vendors. The whole point of test driving a car is to try it on for size to see if you feel comfortable in it.
See also: on, try

try out

1. verb To try, use, or consider something in order to make a decision or form an opinion about it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "try" and "out." The whole point of test driving a car is to try it out and see if you feel comfortable in it. Too hungry for a regular burger? Then try out our new "Ultra Burger," with eight beef patties!
2. verb To perform before an evaluator in order to be selected for a particular role or position, such as on an athletic team. I'm planning to try out for the basketball team, so I'm going to try to practice every day this summer.
3. noun A process in which one performs before an evaluator in order to be selected for a particular role or position, such as on an athletic team. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated or spelled as one word, and is sometimes pluralized ("tryouts"). The band's drummer just quit, so they're having an open tryout to select a replacement. Hey, I didn't see you at tryouts today. You didn't get cut, did you?
See also: out, try
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

try something (on) (for size)

 
1. Lit. to put on an article of clothing to see if it fits. Here, try this on for size and see if it fits any better. Please try on this shirt for size.
2. Fig. to evaluate an idea or proposition. Now, try on this idea. Try this plan for size. I think you'll like it.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See:
  • a try at (someone or something)
  • catch (one) another time
  • catch (someone) some other time
  • close but no cigar
  • do (one's) damndest
  • do (one's) damnedest
  • do (one's) level best
  • do (one's) utmost
  • do not try this at home
  • do/try your damnedest
  • do/try your level best
  • do/try your utmost
  • don't knock it till you try it
  • don't knock it till you've try it
  • give (something) a try
  • give (something) the (old) college try
  • give a try
  • give something the old college try
  • if at first you don't succeed, try, try again
  • I'll try (one) later
  • I'll try to catch (one) later
  • I'll try to catch (one) some other time
  • I'll try to see (one) later
  • Maybe some other time
  • old college try
  • old college try, (give it) the
  • old college try, the
  • the (old) college try
  • these things are sent to try us
  • try
  • try (one's) damndest
  • try (one's) damnedest
  • try (one's) fortune
  • try (one's) hand (at something)
  • try (one's) level best
  • try (one's) luck
  • try (one's) patience
  • try (one's) utmost
  • try (one's) wings (out)
  • try (something) for size
  • try (something) on for size
  • try (something) out on (one)
  • try a fall with
  • try a fall with (someone)
  • try as (one) may
  • try as (one) might
  • try as I may
  • try at
  • try back
  • try conclusions with
  • try conclusions with (someone)
  • try every trick in the book
  • try for
  • try for (something)
  • try fortune
  • try hand
  • try it on
  • try it on with (one)
  • try luck
  • try me
  • try on
  • try on with
  • try one's hand
  • try one's patience
  • try out
  • try out on
  • try patience
  • try somebody's patience
  • try someone back
  • try someone back again
  • try something for size
  • try something on for size
  • try the patience of (someone)
  • try to catch you some other time
  • try wings
  • try your hand
  • try your hand at something
  • try your luck
  • try your wings
  • try, use, etc. every trick in the book
  • use every trick in the book
  • we'll try again another time
  • we'll try again some other time
  • Would it hurt to (do something)?
  • You never know till you try
  • you('ll) never know till you try
  • you('ll) never know until you try
References in periodicals archive
Broster steadied the ship with his second try for Macc but there was no stopping Stour as prop Stef Thorp and then flanker Luke Veeble both crashed over from close range.
Macc sunk by Rundle treble
Moments later, Charles Odongo of Nakuru made a brilliant run on the touchline and scored a try which Ominde converted.Okwaro reduced the leeway in the 72nd minute for Oilers when he scored a penalty.
Nakuru drown Oilers in home derby
The high tempo continued as Cardiff got their first points of the afternoon through a Ben Thomas try. The centre chased his long kick and managed to pick up possession for an easy try.
CARDIFF'S JOY AFTER ARMS PARK THRILLER
BRIDGEND - Tries: A O'Driscoll, J Murphy, I Merriman, Penalty try; Cons: W Holley (2).
Silva praise for local talent
GRIX 7 Injury to Waterhouse gave him his starting chance and justified it with try and gutsy display.
WARRINGTON RATINGS; WIGAN RATINGS
Thirsk added a converted try. UNDER-15 West Hartlepool 12 Acklam 51 IN the third meeting of the sides this season, Acklam won for the second time, showing how far they have come since losing to West early in the campaign.
Tries all round for Acklam's juniors; Junior rugby
IG - S Long performance: 58-62 (1pt per try minute, 10 try, 15 first try, 25 St Helens win, 50 man of match; Player match bets (10pts most tries, 5 per try won by): 0-2 Wellens/Gardner, 1-3 Wellens/Gidley, 0-2 Gardner/Gidley; 2-4 Pryce/Long, 1ch Gidley/Meli; 0-2 Roby/Cunningham; 1-3 Gilmour/Wilkin, 0-2 Murphy/Greenshields, 1-3 Mogg/Jones.
Rugby League: Aussie Gidley should gallop over line more often than team-mate; SPREADWISE
CHEEKS Put some glow on those cheeks with cream formulas in icy pink and rose, or try a very light bronzer.
Makeup bag bliss
try low-fat, low-protein liquid calorie/electrolyte solutions pre-race
Track-induced nausea
Left-wing Maxwell claimed the opening try in the fourth minute and added two more as the visitors raced into a 21-0 lead after 35 minutes.
Rugby: Ulster in Maximum overdrive; TREVISO 26 ULSTER 43
We have continued to try to promote that and to provide ways to teach and train using the Internet.
Ironing out the specifics: better and clearer communication between suppliers and mills helps to avoid problems
The Technique of the First Try: Testing Performance Control
Practicing for artistic success: empowering the student with self-management skills in the practice room
We all know, or at least we all should realize, that reality is more complex than any of us can claim to understand, so our job as scholars is to try to bring a little clarity out of the complexity, to try to create useful, working knowledge out of what might seem chaos.
Family Men: Middle-Class Fatherhood in Early Industrializing America
I want abstraction to be more than a style, or a backdrop, so I try to build a context for it in my work--often I make a kind of fantasy architecture to house the abstraction.
In Conversation: John Baldessari & Jeremy Blake
What I'm talking about is the "Yoda factor," which is the difference between "trying to do CPOE" and "doing CPOE." In the "Star Wars" movies, when Jedi Knights-in-training complain that rising above their current abilities is too hard, Master Yoda admonishes them with: "Try not.
Why do health systems flop with CPOE? Ask Yoda: the "Yoda factor" is the difference between "trying to do CPOE" and "doing CPOE."