[General] make a guess, have a guess, take a guess

[Madness1]

I know they are essentially identical in meaning because they just mean 'guess', but I feel that there must be some slight differences between them, because in some contexts one is more appropriate and natural than others, other times one or two of them sound completely wrong, and yet in some other contexts they all fit and sound ok.

What are the rules, what does each phrase mean exactly, and how and when should each be used?

 

[jutfrank]

When the phrase is simply have/take/make a guess, the meaning is identical. In terms of usage, have is more common among British speakers and take is more common among American speakers. I'm not too sure about other varieties. make is much less common, and though you should easily be able to find many examples of use, is not something I'd teach learners to use, as there are two better alternatives.

However, in more developed phrases, the British have is often not very natural, and can be replaced with make, as in the following:

Go on—just have your best guess. :cross:
Go on—just make your best guess. :tick:

 

[Tarheel]

Madness1, you seem to have run all your sentences together.