attempt at something—an effort to do smth.:
- This publication is the first attempt at a representation of our knowledge about vitamins and avitaminoses.
attempt on something—
1. an act of trying to accomplish smth. difficult:
- When he makes his next attempt on the world’s record, he will be using a “jet-propelled” speed-boat.
2. (in the phrase “attempt on someone’s life”) an act of trying to kill smb. (usually of an unseccessful attack or assault):
- Musharraf survived a second attempt on his life when attackers rammed a car bomb into his motorcade.