didn't even try

USAGE SUMMARY

'didn't even try' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone had no intention of doing something, or made no effort to do something. For example: John was given an opportunity to learn a new skill, but he didn't even try.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(I didn't even try).

The New York Times

They didn't even try.

The New Yorker

But he didn't even try.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We didn't even try anything on.

The New York Times

We didn't even try to have sex.

The New York Times

He didn't even try to hear what.

The New Yorker

Miss Tomkins didn't even try to answer.

The New Yorker

I didn't even try to tackle it.

The Guardian - Travel

Fielding didn't even try and see Springsteen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It looks like you didn't even try.

The Guardian - Film

They didn't even try to resuscitate.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, consider preceding the phrase with an adverb like 'absolutely' or 'completely': 'He absolutely didn't even try to...'.

Common error

Avoid using "didn't even try" when you mean someone attempted something but failed. This phrase emphasizes a complete lack of effort, not an unsuccessful attempt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "didn't even try" functions as a negative declarative, asserting the absence of effort or attempt. Ludwig confirms this by showing examples where the phrase is used to indicate a complete lack of action. It often implies disappointment, criticism, or disbelief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "didn't even try" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a complete lack of effort or attempt. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals its frequent use in News & Media, indicating a neutral to slightly informal register. While it's essential to use it accurately, avoiding its application to situations where some effort was indeed made but unsuccessful, several alternatives like "made no attempt" or "didn't bother" can add nuance. In conclusion, understanding its implications and potential for misuse will allow you to use "didn't even try" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simply didn't try

Highlights the simplicity and directness of the lack of effort.

made no attempt

Emphasizes the complete absence of any effort, making it slightly more formal.

didn't bother

Highlights a lack of concern or motivation to make an effort, suggesting indifference.

didn't make an effort

Directly states the absence of effort, suitable for various contexts.

didn't lift a finger

An idiomatic expression indicating a complete lack of action or help.

didn't so much as attempt

Emphasizes the minimal nature of the effort, if any.

never attempted

Highlights the absence of effort in a more absolute sense.

refused to attempt

Conveys a deliberate choice not to make any effort.

gave no indication of trying

Focuses on the lack of outward signs of effort.

took no initiative

Indicates a lack of proactive effort or action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "didn't even try" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "made no attempt", "did not endeavor", or "failed to attempt", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "didn't even tried"?

No, "didn't even tried" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "didn't even try". The auxiliary verb "did" already indicates the past tense, so the main verb "try" should be in its base form.

What's the difference between "didn't even try" and "didn't really try"?

"Didn't even try" implies a complete absence of effort, whereas "didn't really try" suggests that some effort was made, but it was insincere or half-hearted. The former indicates negligence, while the latter indicates a lack of genuine commitment.

How to use "didn't even try" in a sentence?

You can use "didn't even try" to express that someone made no effort to do something. For example: "He "didn't even try" to help, he just stood there." or "She "didn't even try" to study for the exam."