"try on for size" meaning in English

See try on for size in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

Forms: tries on for size [present, singular, third-person], trying on for size [participle, present], tried on for size [participle, past], tried on for size [past]
Head templates: {{en-verb|*|head=try on for size}} try on for size (third-person singular simple present tries on for size, present participle trying on for size, simple past and past participle tried on for size)
  1. (transitive, literally) To test an item of clothing by wearing it, to determine if it is the correct size. Tags: literally, transitive Synonyms: try for size [UK]
    Sense id: en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-EQYcsiMh Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 86 4 7 4 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 78 5 12 5 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 84 5 6 5
  2. (transitive, figuratively) To test something for suitability. Tags: figuratively, transitive
    Sense id: en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-uoFXZfGp
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To ponder or consider an idea. Tags: figuratively, transitive
    Sense id: en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-h8tlNuw2
  4. (transitive, figuratively, chiefly used in the imperative) To receive an imminent attack. Tags: figuratively, transitive
    Sense id: en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-HtIXGetJ

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tries on for size",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "trying on for size",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "tried on for size",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "tried on for size",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*",
        "head": "try on for size"
      },
      "expansion": "try on for size (third-person singular simple present tries on for size, present participle trying on for size, simple past and past participle tried on for size)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "86 4 7 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "78 5 12 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "84 5 6 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To test an item of clothing by wearing it, to determine if it is the correct size."
      ],
      "id": "en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-EQYcsiMh",
      "links": [
        [
          "test",
          "test"
        ],
        [
          "item",
          "item"
        ],
        [
          "clothing",
          "clothing"
        ],
        [
          "wear",
          "wear"
        ],
        [
          "determine",
          "determine"
        ],
        [
          "correct",
          "correct"
        ],
        [
          "size",
          "size"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, literally) To test an item of clothing by wearing it, to determine if it is the correct size."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "69 0 31 0",
          "tags": [
            "UK"
          ],
          "word": "try for size"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "literally",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To test something for suitability."
      ],
      "id": "en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-uoFXZfGp",
      "links": [
        [
          "test",
          "test"
        ],
        [
          "suitability",
          "suitability"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively) To test something for suitability."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2023 October 22, HarryBlank, “Waiting to Happen”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 2024-05-23:",
          "text": "\"Cool. So obviously that's your outfit's kinda thing, but try this on for size on top of it: I did not forget. I still haven't.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To ponder or consider an idea."
      ],
      "id": "en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-h8tlNuw2",
      "links": [
        [
          "ponder",
          "ponder"
        ],
        [
          "consider",
          "consider"
        ],
        [
          "idea",
          "idea"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively) To ponder or consider an idea."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Mona the Vampire, \"The X-Change Student\" (season 1, episode 6a)",
          "text": "Mona: Try this vampire bolt on for size!"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To receive an imminent attack."
      ],
      "id": "en-try_on_for_size-en-verb-HtIXGetJ",
      "links": [
        [
          "imperative",
          "imperative"
        ],
        [
          "receive",
          "receive"
        ],
        [
          "imminent",
          "imminent"
        ],
        [
          "attack",
          "attack"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively, chiefly used in the imperative) To receive an imminent attack."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "used in the imperative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "try on for size"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English idioms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English verbs",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tries on for size",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "trying on for size",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "tried on for size",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "tried on for size",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*",
        "head": "try on for size"
      },
      "expansion": "try on for size (third-person singular simple present tries on for size, present participle trying on for size, simple past and past participle tried on for size)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To test an item of clothing by wearing it, to determine if it is the correct size."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "test",
          "test"
        ],
        [
          "item",
          "item"
        ],
        [
          "clothing",
          "clothing"
        ],
        [
          "wear",
          "wear"
        ],
        [
          "determine",
          "determine"
        ],
        [
          "correct",
          "correct"
        ],
        [
          "size",
          "size"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, literally) To test an item of clothing by wearing it, to determine if it is the correct size."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "literally",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To test something for suitability."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "test",
          "test"
        ],
        [
          "suitability",
          "suitability"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively) To test something for suitability."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2023 October 22, HarryBlank, “Waiting to Happen”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 2024-05-23:",
          "text": "\"Cool. So obviously that's your outfit's kinda thing, but try this on for size on top of it: I did not forget. I still haven't.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To ponder or consider an idea."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "ponder",
          "ponder"
        ],
        [
          "consider",
          "consider"
        ],
        [
          "idea",
          "idea"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively) To ponder or consider an idea."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Mona the Vampire, \"The X-Change Student\" (season 1, episode 6a)",
          "text": "Mona: Try this vampire bolt on for size!"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To receive an imminent attack."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "imperative",
          "imperative"
        ],
        [
          "receive",
          "receive"
        ],
        [
          "imminent",
          "imminent"
        ],
        [
          "attack",
          "attack"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, figuratively, chiefly used in the imperative) To receive an imminent attack."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "used in the imperative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "word": "try for size"
    }
  ],
  "word": "try on for size"
}

Download raw JSONL data for try on for size meaning in English (2.7kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-01-25 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-20 using wiktextract (c15a5ce and 5c11237). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.