and can take things easy now./
[take it from the top]{v. phr.}, {informal}{Musical andtheatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. •/The conductorsaid, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and watch my baton."/
[take it into one’s head] or {informal}[take a notion]{v.phr.} To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. •/The boy suddenlytook it into his head to leave school and get a job./ •/Grandmother keeps abag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a notion./
[take it on the chin]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beatenor hurt. •/Our football team really took it on the chin today. They are allbumps and bruises./ •/Mother and I took it on the chin in the card game./2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens to you; accepttrouble or defeat calmly. •/A good football player can take it on the chinwhen his team loses./
[take it or leave it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To accept somethingwithout change or refuse it; decide yes or no. — Often used like a command.•/He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or leave it./
[take it out on]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkindto (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings by beingmean to. — Often used with the name of the feeling instead of "it." •/Theteacher was angry and took it out on the class./ •/Bob was angry becauseFather would not let him use the car, and he took it out on his littlebrother./
[take its toll]{v. phr.} To cause loss or damage. •/The bombs hadtaken their toll on the little town./ •/The budget cut took its toll ofteachers./
[take kindly to]{v.} To be pleased by; like. — Usually used innegative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. •/He doesn’t take kindlyto any suggestions about running his business./ •/Will your father takekindly to the idea of your leaving college?/
[take leave of]{v. phr.} I. To abandon, go away from, or becomeseparated from. — Usually used in the phrase "take leave of one’s senses".•/Come down from the roof, Billy! Have you taken leave of your senses?/ 2.See: TAKE ONE’S LEAVE.
[take leave of one’s senses]{v. phr.} To go mad; become crazy.•/"Have you taken leave of your senses? "Jake cried, when he saw Andy swallowa live goldfish./
[take liberties]{v. phr.} To act toward in too close or friendly amanner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own. •/Marywould not let any boy take liberties with her./ •/Bill took liberties withTom’s bicycle./ Compare: MAKE FREE WITH.
[take lying down]{v. phr.} To accept something without defense orprotest. •/If you take such insults lying down, you will only encourage moreof the same./
[taken aback] also [taken back]{adj.} Unpleasantly surprised;suddenly puzzled or shocked. •/When he came to pay for his dinner he wastaken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./
[taken by] or [with]{v. phr.} To be impressed by; intrigued by.•/Ned was much taken by the elegance of Sophie’s manners./
[take no stock in] See: TAKE STOCK IN.
[take note of] or [take notice of]{v. phr.} 1. To look carefullyat; pay close attention to; observe well. •/A detective is trained to takenote of people and things./ 2. To notice and act in response; pay attention.•/Two boys were talking together in the back of the room but the teacher tookno notice of them./ •/The principal thanked everyone who helped in theprogram, and took note of the decorations made by the art class./
[take oath]{v. phr.} To promise to tell the truth or to do some taskhonestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. •/Mary tookher oath that she did not steal the watch./ •/John took oath that he wouldfill the office of president faithfully./
[takeoff]{n.} 1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becomingairborne. •/The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a wonderfullysmooth takeoff./ 2. Imitation; a parody. •/Vaughn Meader used to do awonderful takeoff on President Kennedy’s speech./
[take off]{v. phr.} 1a. To leave fast; depart suddenly; run away.•/The dog took off after a rabbit./ Compare: LIGHT OUT. 1b. {informal}To go away; leave. •/The six boys got into the car and took off for the drugstore./ 2. To leave on a flight, begin going up. •/A helicopter is able totake off and land straight up or down./ 3. {informal} To imitateamusingly; copy another person’s habitual actions or speech. •/He made acareer of taking off famous people for nightclub audiences./ •/At theparty, Charlie took off the principal and some of the teachers./ 4. To take(time) to be absent from work. •/When his wife was sick he took off fromwork./ •/Bill was tired out so he took the day off./
[take off one’s hat to]{v. phr.} To give honor, praise, and respectto. •/He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for his courage./Compare: HAND IT TO.
[take offense at]{v. phr.} To become indignant; become angry. •/Whydo you always take offense at everything I say?/
[take off one’s hands]{v. phr.} 1. To abdicate one’s responsibility ofa person or matter. •/"I am herewith taking my hand off your affairs," Lou’sfather said. "See how you succeed on your own."/ 2. To buy; relieve someoneof something. •/He offered to take my old car off my hands for $350./
[take off the edge] See: TAKE THE EDGE OFF.
[take on]{v.} 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. •/A bigship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas forsale./ •/The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman on./ 2. Tobegin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). •/Others joined thefistfight until it took on the look of a riot./ •/After the students put upChristmas decorations, the classroom took on a holiday appearance./ 3a. Togive a job to; hire; employ. •/The factory has opened and is beginning totake on new workers./ Contrast: LET GO(4), LET OFF, LET OUT(6). 3b. To acceptin business or a contest. •/The big man took on two opponents at once./•/After his father died, Bill took on the management of the factory./•/We knew their football team was bigger and stronger, but we took them onanyway and beat them./ 4. {informal} To show great excitement, grief, oranger. •/At the news of her husband’s death she took on like a madwoman./Compare: CARRY-ON.
[take one at one’s word]{v. phr.} To naively lend credence to what onetells one. •/It’s a bad idea to take street vendors at their word in large,crowded cities./
[take one’s breath away]{v. phr.} To surprise greatly; impress verymuch; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight; astonish. •/Thesunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away./ •/His refusal was sounexpected it took my breath away./ Compare: CATCH ONE’S BREATH(1).
[take one’s death of] See: CATCH ONE’S DEATH OF.
[take one’s leave] or [take leave of]{v. phr.}, {formal} Tosay good-bye and leave. •/He stayed on after most of the guests had takentheir leave./ •/The messenger bowed and took leave of the queen./ — [leave-taking]{n.} The end of school in June is a time ofleave-taking.
[take one’s life in one’s hands]{v. phr.} To face great danger or takegreat risk. •/Driving that car with those worn tires would be taking yourlife in your hands./ •/He took his life in his hands when he tried tocapture the wild horse./
[take one’s measure] or [take the measure of]{v. phr.} To judgethe character, quality, or nature of; try to guess about something — how hardor easy, dangerous or safe, good or bad, etc. •/The boxers sparred for awhile taking each other’s measure./ •/John took the measure of the cliffbefore he climbed it./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take one’s medicine]{v. phr.} To accept punishment withoutcomplaining. •/The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was ready totake his medicine./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2).
[take one’s name in vain]{v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a witnessto your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully.•/You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain./ 2.{informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. •/"Did I hearsomeone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined his friends./
[take one’s time]{v. phr.} To avoid haste; act in an unhurried way.•/He liked to take his time over breakfast./ •/It is better to take yourtime at this job than to hurry and make mistakes./
[take one’s word]{v. phr.} To believe one’s promise. •/Herb tookEric’s word when he promised to pay up his debt./
[take on faith]{v. phr.} To lend credence to something due to one’sconfidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. •/One should nevertake on faith what one hears about Washington politics./
[take on oneself] or [take upon oneself]{v. phr.} 1. To accept asa duty or responsibility. •/He took it on himself to see that the packageswere delivered.