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take a backseat (to SO/STH)
- My homework had to take a backseat to football during the playoffs.
- to become less important than someone or something else.
-
take one's own life
- Bob tried to take his own life, but he was stopped in time.
- to kill oneself; to commit suicide.
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take one's pick of SO/STH
- Please take your pick of desserts.
- to be able to have one's choice of someone or something.
-
take over
- She took over the job after he left.
- To assume the control or management of or the responsibility for:
-
take part in STH
to paticipate
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take/have/be given precedence over SO/STH
- Ambulances have precedence over regular cars at intersections
- My manager's concerns take precedence over mine.
- the right to come before someone or something else; greater importance than someone or something else.
-
take shape
- My plans are beginning to take shape
- [for something, such as plans, writing, ideas, arguments, etc.] to begin to be organized and specific.
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take sides
- They were arguing, but I didn't want to take sides, so I left.
- to choose one side of an argument.
-
take some heat
- The cops have been taking some heat about the Quincy killing.
- Sl. to receive or put up with criticism (for something).
-
take SO around
show SO around
-
take/catch SO by surprise
- Oh! You took me by surprise because I didn't hear you come in.
- to startle someone; to surprise someone with something unexpected.
-
take it down a notch (or two)
take it down a peg
- The teacher's scolding took Bob down a notch or two.
- Fig. to reprimand someone who is acting too arrogant.
- reprimand: to tell SO officially that s/he has done STH wrong
-
take SO for a ride
- Would you take us for a ride in your boat?
- 1. Lit. to carry someone about, usually for recreation, in a car, plane, boat, etc.
- You really took those people for a ride. They really believed you.
- 2. Fig. to deceive someone.
- Mr. Big told Mike to take Fred for a ride.
- 3. Fig. to take away and murder a person.
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take SO in
- 1.to give SO shelter
- 2.to deceive SO, suck SO in
- I try to shop carefully so that no one can take me in.
-
take SO/STH by storm
- The army took city after city by storm.
- 1. Fig. to conquer someone or something in a fury.
- The singing star took the audience in each town by storm.
- 2. Fig. to succeed overwhelmingly with someone, some place, or a group.
-
take SO/STH off SO's hands
- I would be happy to take your uncle off your hands for a few hours.
- Fig. to relieve someone of the burden or bother of someone or something.
-
take wrong
- You'll probably take this wrong, but I have to say that I've never seen you looking better.
- to misunderstand SO
-
take SO out
- to go out with: George is taking Susan out next week
- to kill; murder: Two snipers took out an enemy platoon.
- to give vent to: Don't take your frustration out in such an aggressive manner.
-
take SO's head off
- There is no need to take his head off about such a simple matter.
- Fig. to scold or berate someone severely. to chew SO out
-
take SO through STH
- Would you mind taking Jerry through the factory? I would be happy to take him through.
- to escort someone through something or some place.
-
take SO under SO's wing(s)
- One of the older children will usually take a new girl or boy under their wing for the first few weeks.
- to help and protect someone, especially someone who is younger than you or has less experience than you
-
take SO up on STH
- I'll take you up on it!
- to accept an offer
-
take STH apart
- to disassemble/ to damage or ruin / to criticise
- Bobby took his bicycle apart.
- The high wind took apart the roof and the fence.
- The teacher took apart John's essay in front of the class.
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take STH at face value
- He means what he says. You have to take him at face value. I take everything he says at face value.
- to accept someone or something just as it appears; to believe that the way things appear is the way they really are.
-
take a beating
- The candidate took a beating in the primaries.
- to be beaten, bested, or defeated.
-
take a chance on SO/STH
- I just couldn't take a chance on Walter, so I picked David.
- I would never take a chance on that horse!
- to gamble that something good might happen or that someone might do well
-
take/have/give a crack at STH
- All of us wanted to have a try at the prize-winning shot. Let Sally have a shot at it. If you let me have a crack at it, maybe I can be successful.
- to take a turn at trying to do something. Give STH a shot!
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take a stab at SO
(try at SO, a crack at SO)
- Let me have a crack at him. I can make him talk.
- an attempt to convince someone of something; an attempt to try to get information out of someone; an attempt to try to train someone to do something.
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take a stab at STH
take a crack at STH
-
take a whack at STH
take/have/give a crack/shot/stab at STH
-
take a go at STH
take/have/give a crack/shot/stab at STH
-
take action against SO/STH
- The city council vowed to take action against the mayor.
- I will take action against the company for its negligence.
- to begin activity against someone or something.
-
take a dive
- 1.The A company took a big dive in profitability this year.
- to plummet, plunge suddenly
- 2. The boxer took a dive in the second round and made everyone suspicious.
- to fake being knocked out in a boxing match.
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take a gander
- Wow, take a gander at that new car!
- to look at someone or something.
-
-
take a hint
- I said I didn't want to see you anymore. Can't you take a hint? I don't like you.
- to understand a hint and behave accordingly.
-
take a jab/dig at SO
- 1.Max took a jab at Lefty and missed. Lefty took a punch at Max.
- to hit at someone; to poke someone.
- 2. Jane is always taking digs at Bob, but she never really means any harm.
- take a dig at someone. to insult or pester someone.
-
take a leak
- I gotta go take a leak. Back in a minute. He just went out to take a leak.
- to go pee
-
take a load off SO's mind
- I'm glad to hear that. It sure takes a load off of my mind.
- to relieve one's mind of a problem or a worry.
-
take a load off SO's feet
- to relieve one's mind of a problem or a worry.
- (the same as take a load off SO's mind)
-
take a long walk off a short pier
- Take a long walk off a short pier! You bother me. Go play in the traffic.
- get out of here
-
take a lot out of SO
- Hot days like this take a lot out of me.
- to drain a lot of energy from someone.
-
take a spill
- Ann tripped on the curb and took a nasty spill
- to have a fall; to tip over.
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take a nosedive
- She took a nosedive and injured her face.
- to fall to the ground face first.
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take a stand
- The treasurer was forced to take a stand against the board because of its wasteful spending.
- The treasurer took a stand, and others agreed.
- to take a position in opposition to someone or something; to oppose or resist someone or something.
-
take a swing at SO
- He took a swing at me!
- Tom took a swing at Bob, but Bob ducked out of the way.
- to attempt to punch someone.
-
take a turn for the better
- Things are taking a turn for the better at my store.
- to start to improve; to start to get well.
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take a turn for the worse
- My job was going quite well; then last week things took a turn for the worse.
- to start to get worse.
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take a whiff of STH
- 1.Did you get a whiff of the turkey roasting?
- Lit. the smell or odor of something.
- 2. The boss got a whiff of the problems in the accounting department.
- Fig. a bit of knowledge of something.
-
take care of number one
(take care of numero uno)
- Mike, like everybody else, is most concerned with taking care of number one.
- to take care of oneself.
-
take charge
- The president came in late and took charge of the meeting.
- to take (over) control of someone or something.
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take cover
- As soon as the firing started, we took cover behind a huge boulder.
- to seek shelter from gunfire or other projectiles.
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take credit for STH
- I can't take credit for the entire success. Toby helped a lot.
- to allow people to believe that one has done something praiseworthy, whether or not one has actually done it.
-
take five
- Okay, everybody. Take five!
- to take a five-minute rest period; to take a short break.
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take it away!
- And now, here is the band playing "Song of Songs." Take it away!
- Sally will now sing us a song. Take it away, Sally!
- Start up the performance!; Let the show begin!
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take it easy on SO
- Take it easy on Mary. She's been sick.
- to be gentle on someone, something, or an animal.
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take it easy on STH
- Take it easy on the soup. There's just enough for one serving for each person.
- to use less of something (rather than more).
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take it from me!
I know out of my experience, listen and believe me
-
take it from the top
- The conductor stopped the band and had the players take it from the top again.
- Let's take it from the top and play it a bit softer this time.
- to begin [again] at the beginning, especially the beginning of a piece of music.
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take it like a man
- She said some really cutting things to him, but he took it like a man.
- to suffer misfortune stoically.
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take it on the chin
- They laid some blunt criticism on him, but he took it on the chin. I knew he could take it on the nose.
- to stand up to something adverse, such as criticism. To endure punishment, suffering, or defeat.
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take it or leave it
- That's my final offer. Take it or leave it.
- take this one or none.
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take it out on SO/STH
- Don't take it out on others.
- To abuse (someone) in venting one's own anger.
- 人、物に八つ当たりする。
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take it slow
- Just relax and take it slow. You've got a good chance.
- to go slowly and carefully
-
take it to one's grave
- I will never tell anyone. I'll take your secret to my grave
- to carry a secret with one until one dies.
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take it upon oneself to do STH
(make it one's business to do STH)
- I know it doesn't concern me, but I made it my business to (or I took it upon myself to) call city hall because someone had to.
- to do something on one's own even if it means interfering in something that does not directly concern one.
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take kindly to STH
- My father doesn't take kindly to anyone using his tools.
- to be agreeable to something.
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take my word for it!
- Don't just take her word for it - go and see for yourself.
- to believe that something is true because someone tells you it is, without making sure that it really is true
-
taken aback
- When I told my parents I was married, they were completely taken aback.
- surprised and confused.
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take names
- The boss is madder than hell, and he's taking names.
- to make a list of wrongdoers. Often figuratively, referring to a schoolteacher making a list of the names of misbehaving students to be sent to the principal.
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take no prisoners
- 1.The soldiers' orders were to take no prisoners.
- Lit. to kill the enemy rather than seize the enemy as prisoners.
- 2. The new manager takes no prisoners. He is ruthless and stern.
- Fig. to be extremely ruthless with the opposition.
- ruthless; not caring if you have to harm others to get what you want
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take off
- I'm taking off, see ya!
- to leave a place
-
take off from work
- Is Joseff taking off from work today?
- to take a day off
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take on a new meaning
- All these monuments take on a new meaning when you realize the amount of human artistry and skill it took to design and build them.
- to become more meaningful or more significant , to acquire a new interpretation
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take one's eyes off (of) SO/STH
- I couldn't take my eyes off Daisuke (or eyes off of him)
- to cease looking at someone or something.
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take STH down
- to beat
- to destroy
- to take notes
-
Take it in stride
- She faced a serious problem, but she was able to take it in her stride.
- We were afraid that success would spoil her, but she just took it in stride.
- Fig. to accept advances or setbacks as the normal course of events.
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take STH lying down
- He insulted me publicly. You don't expect me to take that lying down, do you?
- to endure STH unpleasant without fighting
-
take STH out of context
- You took her remarks out of context! You're the dishonest person, not her!
- removed from the surrounding context of the event, thereby misrepresenting the intent of the utterance or report.
- 言葉尻をとらえる
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take it personally
- I want to tell you something, but please don't take it personally.
- to interpret a remark as if it were mean or critical about oneself.
-
take STH public
- You gotta take it public—put it on the street—even when it's none of your business.
- to make something known to the public.
-
take STH to heart
- Mary listened to Bob's advice and took it all to heart.
- All Sue's advice was taken to heart by the show committee.
- Fig. to consider that some comment is significant to oneself.
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take STH under advisement
- It's a good idea, but I'll have to take it under advisement.
- to hear an idea and think about it carefully.(=sleep on STH)
-
take steps
- I took steps to prevent John from learning what we were talking about.
- Fig. to do what is necessary to prevent something.
-
take the bitter with the sweet
- If you intend to get married, you must be prepared to take the bitter with the sweet.
- Prov. Accept the bad things as well as the good things that happen.
-
take the easy way out
- You can depend on Kelly to take the easy way out of a tough situation.
- I'm not the type that takes the easy way out.
- to get free of something by taking the path of least resistance.
-
take the floor
- 1.When I take the floor, I'll make a short speech.
- Fig. to stand up and address the audience.
- 2. They took the floor for the foxtrot. When the band played, everyone took the floor.
- Fig. to go to the dance floor in order to dance.
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take the heat
- The cops have been taking some heat about the Quincy killing.
- Sl. to receive or put up with criticism (for something).
-
take the initiative
- Sometimes, in order to get things done, you have to take the initiative.
- to activate oneself to do something even if one has not been asked to do it.
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take the law into one's own hands
- The shopkeeper took the law into his own hands when he tried to arrest the thief.
- Fig. to attempt to administer the law; to pass judgment on someone who has done something wrong.
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Take the liberty of doing STH
- I took the liberty of ordering an entree for you. I hope you don't mind.
- to do something for someone voluntarily; to do something slightly personal for someone that would be more appropriate if one knew the person better.
-
Take the plundge
- I'm not ready to take the plunge yet.
- Sam and Mary took the plunge.
- to marry SO
-
take the rap for STH
- I won't take the rap for the crime. I wasn't even in town.
- Inf. to take the blame for (doing) something.
-
take/pick up the slack
- When Sue starts going out to work each day, Bob and the kids will have to take up the slack and help more at home.
- to do the work which someone else has stopped doing, but which still needs to be done
-
take the stage
- Later in the day, the problems in the warehouse took the stage, and we discussed them until dinnertime.
- Fig. to become the center of attention; to become the focus of everyone's attention.
-
take the stand
- I was in court all day, waiting to take the stand.
- The lawyer asked the witness to take the stand.
- to go to and sit in the witness chair in a courtroom.
-
take the trouble to do STH
to make an effort to do something (that one might not otherwise do).
-
Take the words out of SO's mouth
- That is exactly right! You took the words right out of my mouth!
- When you said "expensive," you took the words right out of my mouth!
- Fig. to say something just before someone else was going to say the same thing;
-
take time out
- He's taking time out between high school and starting at the university.
- to spend time away from studying or working.
-
take too much on
- Don't take too much on, or you won't be able to do any of it well.
- Ann tends to take on too much and get exhausted.
- to undertake to do too much work or too many tasks at one time.
-
take up SO's time
- You're taking up my time. Please go away.
- This problem is taking up too much of my time.
- to require too much of someone else's time; to waste someone's time.
-
take up space/room
- John, you're not being any help at all. You're just taking up space.
- to occupy space
-
take up where one left off
- I had to leave the room for a minute, but when I got back, I took up where I left off.
- It's time to stop for lunch. After lunch, we will take up where we left off.
- to start up again in the very place that one has stopped.
-
take years off SO/STH
- My exciting vacation took years off of me.
- Your shorter haircut has taken years off your face.
- Shaving beard took 10 years off your face.
- to make someone seem or look younger.
-
That takes care of that
- That takes care of that, and I'm glad it's over.
- I spent all morning dealing with this matter, and that takes care of that.
- Inf. That is settled.
-
That takes the cake
- 1. Inf. That is good, and it wins the prize!
- "What a performance!" cheered John. "That takes the cake!"
- 2. Inf. That is too much; That does it!
- Bob: What a dumb thing to do, Fred! Erik: Yeah, Fred. That takes the cake! Bob: Wow! That takes the cake! Bill: What is it? Bob: That stupid driver in front of me just hit the car on the left and then swung over and hit the car on the right.
-
Winner take all
- The contest was a case of winner take all. There was no second place or runner-up.
- a situation where the one who defeats others takes all the spoils of the conflict.
- Hitori Gati
-
You can't take it with you
- Don't be greedy, enjoy everything within things you own
- You can't take all your belongings when you pass away
-
Point well taken
- I understand what you are saying (but I want you to stop saying about it.)
- Use this in response to SO's opinion, coment.
-
No offence taken
- "No offence" --> "No offence taken"
- I dont take it personally, I dont care about it.
-
like taking a candy from a baby
- Getting to the airport was easy. It was like taking candy from a baby.
- Very easy
-
Just taking care of business
- Bill: Hey, man. What you been doing? Tom: Just taking care of business.
- Fig. doing what I am supposed to do; an answer to the question "What are you doing lately?" (Also abbreviated T.C.B.)
-
It would take an act of Congress to do something.
- It would take an act of Congress to get Bill to wear a necktie.
- It is almost impossible to do something.
-
it takes one to know one
- A: I don't like him cuz he is a liar.
- B: It takes one to know one. (You are the same as him. He must be thinking about you in the same way.)
-
it takes money to make money
- I've been reading a lot of books about how to become wealthy, and they all make it depressingly clear that it takes money to make money.
- Prov. In order to make money, you must first have some money to invest.
-
do a double take
Prov. In order to make money, you must first have some money to invest.
-
Give someone an inch and he'll take a mile/yard.
- If you let Mark borrow your tools for this weekend, he'll wind up keeping them for years. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
- Prov. Be generous to someone and the person will demand even more.
- (Describes someone who will take advantage of you if you are even a little kind to him or her.)
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