# try it on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/try-it-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To test someone to see how much bad behaviour they will tolerate; to try to deceive someone to see how gullible they are.

## Examples

- He is trying it on by asking for a huge discount.
- The employee arrived an hour late again, clearly trying it on to see if the manager would notice.
- By demanding an extension on the project deadline, the student was trying it on, hoping the professor would overlook the lack of effort.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.