ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swing and a miss

idiom
Meaning

A sincere but unsuccessful attempt.


Origin

disputed origin

An allusion to unsuccessful physical actions in such sports as cricket, baseball or boxing, as when swinging a bat at a pitched ball or when throwing a punch at an opponent.

Examples
SIMPLE

That was a swing and a miss on your first try.

CONTEXTUAL

He tried to impress his boss with a new strategy, but it was a swing and a miss.

COMPLEX

Despite his ambitious efforts to reform the department, the proposal proved to be a swing and a miss that left the board unimpressed.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    give something a miss

    To forgo something.

  2. 02

    I never miss

    I am aware of what is going on; I know what is happening.

  3. 03

    Miss Right

    A perfect, ideal or suitable female companion, especially a wife.

  4. 04

    miss the forest for the trees

    Alternative form of cannot see the forest for the trees.

  5. 05

    miss the memo

    To be unaware of the current state of affairs.

  6. 06

    miss the wood for the trees

    Alternative form of cannot see the forest for the trees.

  7. 07

    miss the woods for the trees

    Alternative form of cannot see the forest for the trees.

  8. 08

    swing back

    To return to a previous position.

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