clumsy attempt

collocation in English

meaningsofclumsyandattempt

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withattempt.
clumsy
adjective
uk
/ˈklʌm.zi/us
/ˈklʌm.zi/
A clumsy person often has accidents because they do not behave in a careful, ...
See more atclumsy
attempt
noun[C]
uk
/əˈtempt/us
/əˈtempt/
the act of trying to do something, especially ...
See more atattempt

(Definition ofclumsyandattemptfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofclumsy attempt

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
First, is the proposal not a blatant andclumsyattemptto load the costs of privatisation on the public sector?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is aclumsyattemptto overawe the authorities but it will not succeed.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I regarded it as a ratherclumsyattemptat a personal smear.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Instead, they drew up a shopping list of spending, made aclumsyattemptto hide the price and eventually came out with the rate increase.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He would rather make even hisclumsyattemptto deal with the matter than leave it as it stood at present.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The entry in the hotel register and theclumsyattemptat deletion suggest a quality in trade craft to which it is best not to refer.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It was a crude,clumsyattemptto check demand by clamping down unilateral restraints on the wage earner, particularly, incidentally, the wage earner in the public service.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Pell was cleared of the charge and described the move as aclumsyattemptto curb religious freedom and freedom of speech.
From
Wikipedia
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Pell described this move as aclumsyattemptto curb religious freedom and freedom of speech.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Clymer'sclumsyattemptat traveling in disguise, and his efforts to intimidate local officials, only increased tensions.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
There are some overwhelming reasons: constant threats of closure or clumsy attempts to reorganise education in such a way as would render a school a candidate for closure.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Without effective international mechanisms, deprived parents are really left powerless and desperate or are driven to expensive and clumsy attempts at self-help, with the emotions running higher and higher.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
His clumsy attempts at impressing the actress fail, despite his being in a confined environment with her for multiple hours.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
With a poor understanding of stationers and merchanters alike, its clumsy attempts backfire, provoking first unrest, then occasional armed clashes, and eventually rebellion.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
They have pulled the sheet off what appears to be an official policy of deception using clever and sometimes clumsy attempts at statistical manipulation.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Unused to social situations, his clumsy attempts at small talk are ignored by the busy waitress.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
This is usually compounded by clumsy attempts at retractions, after realising the insulting interpretations of his remarks.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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Go to the definition ofclumsy
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See other collocations withattempt