try-on

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableBritishinformal

   An attempt to deceive someone or get something you do not deserve, often a bold or cheeky one.

   Grammar: Countable and mostly singular: it's a try-on.

   Patterns

   • it's a try-on
   • have a try-on

   The extra charge on the bill was just a try-on.

   He knew his offer was a try-on, but he made it anyway.

   The shop's discount sounded like a try-on to me.

2. 2nouncountable

   An occasion on which a person puts clothes on briefly to see how they fit or look.

   Grammar: Countable: a try-on, two try-ons; often used in front of another noun, like try-on session.

   Patterns

   • a try-on of something

   She posted a try-on of the new autumn coats.

   We had a quick try-on before buying the dresses.

   The store provides a private room for try-ons.

Word forms

Common combinations

just a try-on

I think the offer is just a try-on.

try-on session

The try-on session lasted an hour.

virtual try-on

The site has a virtual try-on for glasses.

try-on haul

Her try-on haul video has a million views.

Synonyms and how they differ

attempt

Attempt is neutral, whereas try-on suggests a cheeky bid to get away with something.

bluff

A bluff is a pretense to scare or fool, but a try-on is an attempt to gain an advantage.

fitting

A fitting is when clothes are checked or altered, often by a tailor, which is more formal than a try-on.

gambit

A gambit is a planned opening move in a strategy, more serious than a try-on.

Word family

try verb

to attempt something

try on phrasal verb

to put on clothes to test the fit

trial noun

a test of something

trier noun

someone who makes an effort

Commonly confused: try-on or tryout?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “try-on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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