take a flyer

• take a flier

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take a flyer (third-person singular simple present takes a flyer, present participle taking a flyer, simple past took a flyer, past participle taken a flyer)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take,‎ flyer.
2. (idiomatic) To invest against odds.
   • 1906, O. Henry, Man About Town:

     The oldest girls are eagerly perusing the financial reports, for a certain young man remarked last Sunday night that he had taken a flyer in Q., X. & Z.

3. (idiomatic) To make a choice with an uncertain outcome; to take a chance.
   • 1997, Edward Greenspon, “Following the Trail of Campaign '97”, in Alan Frizzell, Jon H. Pammett, editors, The Canadian General Election of 1997, Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 36:

     Many voters said that while they liked Reform, they remembered having taken a flyer on Bob Rae and the NDP, a gamble they had come to regret.

   • 2002, Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership‎^[1], Zondervan, published 2002, →ISBN:

     In contrast, other leaders are almost totally risk-averse. They haven't taken a flyer in their adult life.

   • 2006, Dan Matthews, Marsha Collier, Starting a Business on eBay.co.uk for Dummies‎^[2], John Wiley & Sons, published 2006, →ISBN:

     If you have an auction with no bids and a counter that reads a high number, newbie bidders may be dissuaded from taking a flyer and bidding on your auction.

   • 2009, Lew Freedman, Dick Hoak, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History, MBI Publishing, published 2009, →ISBN, page 112:

     The Steelers essentially took a flyer on Brister since his track record consisted of one season leading a college team.

• (take a chance): roll the dice, take a gamble, take a risk