on the first attempt vs. at the first attempt

[Torsten]

Hi,

Is there any difference between 'at the first attempt' and 'on the first attempt'?
Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: A heavy truck load

[Alan]

Hi Torsten,

On the face of it there doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference between the two, at least to me. Perhaps, and I'm flying a bit if a kite here, 'at the first attempt' could suggest something fairly simple like for example trying to open a screw top bottle. 'On the first attempt' could be something slightly grander like trying to get into university, starting a new business and so on. But these are just thoughts.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Torsten]

Hi Alan,

Thanks a lot for your answer which is very helpful.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: The herdsman

[Molly]

I'd say it's something like:

Richard Cobb failed on (the ocassion of) his first attempt to get the Oxford Chair of Modern History
Richard Cobb failed at (the moment of) his first attempt to get the Oxford Chair of Modern History

Maybe "occasion" has a feeling of period and "moment" a feeling of point there, but I may be joining Alan in his kite flying, so...

[Molly]