Meaning of try it on | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To test someone to see how much bad behaviour they will tolerate; to try to deceive someone to see how gullible they are.
   colloquial, idiomatic
2. To try to start a sexual relationship (with someone).
   colloquial, idiomatic

Examples

““Come⟳, come⟳,” said James, putting his hand to his nose and winking at his cousin with a pair of vinous eyes, “no jokes, old boy; no trying it on on me. You want⟳ to trot me out, but it’s no go. In vino veritas, old boy […]””

““We must not submit⟳,” said Mr. Eager. “I knew he was trying it on. He is treating us as if we were a party of Cook’s tourists.””

“The Arabs hate⟳ the French more than they hate⟳ us. Having more reason⟳ to do so, they are more polite; in other words, they have⟳ learnt not to try⟳ it on, when they meet⟳ a European.”

““I’m warning you. I’m going to get⟳ angry. D’you see⟳? You’re not wanted. Understand⟳? We are going to have⟳ fun on this island. Understand⟳? We are going to have⟳ fun on this island! So don’t try⟳ it on, my poor misguided boy, or else—””

““[…] Tell⟳ her I’ll be outside the house from eleven o’clock onwards. Tell⟳ her to leave⟳ the morning-room window open⟳ and to switch⟳ on the light⟳ in her bedroom when it’s safe for me to come⟳ in.” “She won’t believe⟳ me if I go and tell⟳ her that,” I said. “No girl would. She’d think⟳ I was trying it on.””

“No, this was only a young man trying it on with a girl, in that light⟳, undergraduate way in which this kind could snap⟳ back.”

CEFR level