desperate attempt to

collocation in English

meaningsofdesperate,attemptandto

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withattempt.
desperate
adjective
uk
/ˈdes.pər.ət/
us
/ˈdes.pɚ.ət/
very serious ...
See more atdesperate
attempt
noun[C]
uk
/əˈtempt/
us
/əˈtempt/
the act of trying to do something, especially ...
See more atattempt
to
preposition
uk
/tuː/
us
/tuː/
used before a verb to show that it is in ...
See more atto

(Definition ofdesperate,attemptandtofrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofdesperate attempt to

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.
This was adesperateattemptby whig leaders to embarrass a succeeding tory government and carry themselves back into office.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In adesperateattemptto escape his ancestral history, he simply leaves home one day and heads north.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The ruling party is also revealed to be in a quandary, with its leadership ' re-radicalising official discourses ' (p. 47) in a lastdesperateattemptto curry favour.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Pathology thus reveals the extremes to which this search may lead; it points to the ineluctable fate of adesperateattemptto retrieve the impossible.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It was full of bluster and ill-will and was adesperateattemptto rewrite history.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There should be a renewed attempt to secure a revised form of procedure, and we should make adesperateattemptto end the arms race.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Firms are holding on to export markets without profits in adesperateattemptto keep their market share and the markets.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It appears that the cut-off date for the replies has been extended yet again in adesperateattemptto stimulate interest.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The dolphin tights its captivity, often damaging itself on the nets in adesperateattemptto escape.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The report formulated by the rapporteur is adesperateattemptto rescue some of the philosophy behind stability.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
That person has been excluded in adesperateattemptto save money in the household.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We think of it happening when people destroy habitats in adesperateattemptto grow food or scrape out a living.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is adesperateattemptto create legitimacy for an idea for which there is no argument, advantage or appetite.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This is one moredesperateattempton the part of the bankers of this country to anchor our currency to gold.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This is clearly a panic measure introduced as adesperateattemptto obtain a press release in rural areas.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Or is it the language of a party ready to stir up prejudice in adesperateattemptto garner votes?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It may well be adesperateattemptto escape from an uncongenial relationship.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is adesperateattemptto discredit our achievements.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In adesperateattemptto turn back the clock, it is revealing that it is out of touch with what ordinary people want.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The privatisation is just a cynical anddesperateattemptto raise money for tax bribes before the next election.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
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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See other collocations withattempt