PHRASAL VERB OF THE DAY - 572 {TAKE} {Take aback} surprise, astonish or shock somebody; usually preceded by completely, somewhat, rather, etc I was rather taken aback by her rudeness. / The violent reaction of the crowd quite took him aback. {Take after} be similar to a parent or other relation in character, appearance or behaviour He’s a very solemn boy. He takes after his mother in that respect. {Take apart} 1 criticise somebody or something severely When the play was first shown the critics took it apart. 2 defeat somebody easily, especially a team, army, opposition, etc United defended well for the first twenty minutes, but after the first goal City began to take them apart. {Take away (from)} subtract one number from another Five take away three equals two. / If you take £5 away from the total, you’re left with £10. {Take back} admit that something you said was wrong or that you should not have said it I was very unfair to you just now. I’m sorry. I take it all back. {Take back (to)} cause somebody to remember something which happened much earlier in their life Hearing that song takes me back a few years. / The old photograph took him back to his days at school. {Take down} 1 write down or make notes on what somebody is saying, especially of a secretary, student, etc The clerk will take down the details of the accident. / The students were taking down notes on the lecture. 2 dismantle or remove something At the end of the week we have to take the fireplace down. {Take for} 1 judge somebody’s character in a particular way, usually incorrectly I took him for a fool, but I was wrong. / I won’t hurt you. What do you take me for? 2 assume or believe wrongly that somebody or something is somebody or something else I’m sorry. I took you for the secretary. {Take in 1} 1 alter an item of clothing to make it smaller The trousers are slightly too big but I can take them in. 2 understand and absorb something She warned him about the danger but he didn’t take it in. 3 fool, deceive or cheat somebody I hope you weren’t taken in by the advertisement. {Take in 2} 1 include something The UK takes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 2 undertake work, especially washing, laundry, sewing, etc She takes in laundry to earn a bit of extra money. 3 provide accommodation or food for somebody He took in one or two down-and-outs as a sign of his generosity. {Take off 1} 1 imitate or copy the speech or appearance of somebody, especially in order to make people laugh It’s very funny when Giles takes off the headmaster. 2 remove something from service, especially a bus or train The London-Edinburgh express service has been taken off. {Take off 2} 1 remove somebody from a job or task Because he is so inefficient, we have taken Mr Jones off the job. 2 remove a particular item from a menu in a restaurant ‘Duck & orange has been taken off tonight. 3 have a holiday or period of time away from work, school or college When I broke my leg I had to take three weeks off. r When I was ill I had to take time off. {Take off 3} 1 rise up from the ground into the air, especially of an aeroplane or space-rocket The plane is scheduled to take off at 17.30. 2 become very successful or popular Despite a few early difficulties, the idea really took off. 3 increase very quickly, especially of sales, profits, etc In the last few years, sales of microcomputers have really taken off in a big way. {Take on 1} employ or give a job to somebody The steelworks took on 300 extra workers last month. 2 have a fight or quarrel with somebody; accept somebody as an opponent He said he would take on anybody who stood in his way. 3 accept a job or responsibility Her health has begun to suffer since she took on the extra work. {Take on 2} acquire or be seen to have a new or different quality, meaning, appearance The novel takes on a new meaning when you know more about the author. {Take out 1} obtain or pay a fee for an official document or a service, especially an insurance policy, subscription, legal summons, etc I’d like to take out a subscription to “The Times”. {Take out 2} take somebody somewhere for recreation, pleasure or exercise Let me take you out to a night club on Saturday. You’ll enjoy it. {Take out on} get rid of an unpleasant feeling such as anger or frustration by making somebody else suffer You may have had a difficult day at the office, but there’s no need to take your anger out on me now you’re home! {Take over} get control of something, especially of one company getting financial control of another The state airline has taken over two small airline companies this year. {Take over (from)} take responsibility for or control of something from somebody else Dave took over the driving while his mate slept for a few hours. / I’m retiring at the end of this year. Mr Clark will take over from me. {Take to} 1 quickly develop a liking for somebody or something He took to Sally from the moment he met her. 2 begin to do something regularly or as a habit I’ve taken to playing tennis once a week. 3 go away somewhere, especially to escape or hide from somebody or something The criminal took to the hills when she heard that a police hunt had begun. {Take up 1} start doing some activity regularly, especially a job, sport, hobby, etc I took up squash only a few months ago. {Take up 2} 1 occupy or fill time, space, room, etc Move over! You’re taking up far too much room. John can’t sit down. 2 shorten a dress, skirt, curtains, etc Anyone who can sew can take up a skirt. 3 become soaked with a liquid A paper tissue will soon take up that spilt coffee. 4 accept or agree to do something, especially an invitation, offer, challenge, etc I had an invitation to the dinner, but I didn’t take it up. 5 resume or return to something I took up the story where Helen had left off. {Take up (on)} argue with somebody about something they have said The lecturer was talking excitedly until someone took him up on one of his wilder observations. {Take up (with)} raise an issue, matter, complaint, etc, for discussion with somebody If you have any complaints, take them up with the manager. {Take up on} accept somebody’s offer, challenge, invitation, etc If he has said that he will pay for you, why not take him up on his offer? {Take up with} become friendly with somebody and be frequently in their company She has taken up with an unpleasant fellow she met in London. taken from the GLOBAL ELT ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:00:01 +0000
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