college try

American  

noun

1. Informal. maximum effort for success on behalf of one's group, team, alma mater, etc. (usually preceded by the phrasethe old ).

   We may not make the deadline, but we'll give it the old college try.

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Etymology

Origin of college try

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But lately, growing numbers of preretirees and retirees are giving it the old college try.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Given one more college try, Kelly will get another chance to live up to his championship pledge.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2023

That said, you can hardly blame Zuckerberg for wanting to give it the old college try.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2022

Biden almost certainly had some real hope that he could bridge the bipartisan divide when he took office and he was determined to give it the old college try.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2022

Probably he had said to someone to give something the old college try, and that had finished him; that would probably be grounds for expulsion at Harvard.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles