take a run at

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take a run at (third-person singular simple present takes a run at, present participle taking a run at, simple past took a run at, past participle taken a run at)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To attempt to achieve or acquire.
   • 1989 November 26, Deborah Hofmann, “Fashion: Fluffy Outerwear Invades City Streets”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 September 2012:

     "No one else has achieved the right knit of polyester Dacron fibers—lots of mills have taken a run at it."

   • 2001 October 3, “Faces In The News”, in forbes.com, retrieved 24 September 2012:

     Cisco Chief Executive Officer John Chambers has scarcely hid the fact that his company is actively eyeing a number of acquisitions. At a luncheon in Toronto he felt compelled to deny recent speculation that Cisco would take a run at Canada's Nortel Networks.

   • 2003 November 9, Joe Klein, “Hectoring Is Not Leadership”, in Time:

     Dean told me that he understood he would have to grow as a candidate in order to succeed, that it was time to move his campaign beyond attacks and anger, to take a run at the vision thing.

   • 2009 June 16, Bob Swanson, “Weather headlines”, in USA Today, retrieved 24 September 2012:

     Through Monday, Honolulu has set record highs 8 days straight and could again take a run at a record today.

2. (transitive, idiomatic) To attack or challenge or to try to attack or challenge.
   • 1998 March 22, Robert Lipsyte, “Backtalk: New Sign Of Spring—Murdoch”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 September 2012:

     Like a tall dog who attacks a bear to remind himself he is still a tall dog, Ted Turner took a run at Rupert Murdoch last week.

   • 2006 July 24, Hank Gola, "Dimarco Eases Own Pain Eases Own Pain," New York Daily News (retrieved 24 2012):

     Only one guy was brave enough to take a run at Tiger Woods at the British Open yesterday. . . . DiMarco finished two shots behind Woods.

• (attempt to achieve or acquire): have a go at (UK), take a stab at
• (attack or challenge): have a go at (UK)