take a pop at (someone or something)

take a pop at (someone or something)

1. To physically strike someone or attempt to do so. Primarily heard in UK. Stay away from that rival gang—those guys will definitely take a pop at you.

2. To criticize, judge, or disapprove of someone. Primarily heard in UK. My parents have taken a pop at me for my decision to study art in college, instead of law or medicine. I just know my boss is going to take a pop at me for that accounting error I made last week.

3. To try to do something. Primarily heard in UK. A: "Do you want to try driving my car, to see how you like it?" B: "Yeah, sure, I'll take a pop at it."

See also: pop, take

take a pop at someone

 and take a poke at someone

to punch at someone. Willie took a pop at me, but I ducked. The drunk took a poke at the cop—which was the wrong thing to do.

See also: pop, take

take a pop at someone

or

have a pop at someone

BRITISH, JOURNALISM, INFORMAL

If you take a pop at another person or have a pop at them, you hit them. Andy was just having a quiet drink with some of his pals when this guy took a pop at him. I had been in my fair share of fights at school but the more successful I was on the cricket field, the more these guys wanted to have a pop at me.

See also: pop, someone, take

take a pop at someone/something

or

have a pop at someone/something

BRITISH, JOURNALISM, INFORMAL

COMMON If you take a pop at someone or something or have a pop at them, you criticize them. Even his once loyal staff have started taking a pop at him in the press. When females gather together, they like to have a pop at us chaps.

See also: pop, someone, something, take

take a pop at someone

tv. to punch at someone. The drunk took a pop at the cop—which was the wrong thing to do.

See also: pop, someone, take