[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.
[take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to a misunderstanding. •/"I hope you won’t take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/
[take a new turn]{v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. •/The company took a new turn under Jack’s directorship./
[take a nose dive]{v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. •/The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President’s heart attack./
[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE’S HEAD.
[take apart]{v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. •/Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./
[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.
[take a powder]{v. phr.}, {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. •/All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./
[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] {v. phr.} To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. •/Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ •/Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ •/I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./
[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.
[take a shine to]{v. phr.}, {slang} To have or show a quick liking for. •/He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a shot at]{v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. •/"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven’t done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/
[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a spill]{v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. •/During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./
[take at one’s word]{v. phr.} To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. •/If you say you don’t want this coat, I’ll take you at your word and throw it away./ •/When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./
[take a stand]{v. phr.} To assert one’s point. of view; declare one’s position. •/It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./
[take a turn]{v. phr.} To become different; change. •/Mary’s fever suddenly took a bad turn./ •/The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". •/In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ •/Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./
[take a turn for the better]{v. phr.} To start improving; start to get better. •/Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./
[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER.
[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.
[take back]{v.} To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. •/I take back my offer to buy the house now that I’ve had a good look at it./ •/I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./
[take by storm]{v. phr.} 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. •/The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. •/The comic took the audience by storm./ •/John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.
[take by surprise]{v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. •/The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ •/When Mrs. Green’s dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. •/Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ •/When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./
[take by the scruff]{v. phr.} 1. To assert authority over a person. •/Tim’s mother took him by the scruff and told him to get cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. •/The boss took us by the scruff when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some difficulty. •/Someone had better take the post office by the scruff; there are too many customer complaints pouring in./
[take care]{v. phr.} To be careful; use wisdom or caution. •/Take care that you don’t spill that coffee!/ •/We must take care to let nobody hear about this./
[take care of]{v. phr.} 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. •/She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2), LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. {informal} To deal with; do what is needed with. •/I will take care of that letter./ •/The coach told Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO.
[take charge]{v. phr.} To begin to lead or control; take control or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or things). •/When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for them./ •/The child care class gave a party for the nursery children, and Mary took charge of the games./ •/John was elected the new president of the club and took charge at the next meeting./ •/Bob is a natural leader, and can take charge in an emergency./ Compare: IN CHARGE(2).
[take cold] See: CATCH COLD.
[take cover]{v. phr.} To seek shelter or protection. •/The rain began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway./
[take down]{v.} 1. To write or record (what is said). •/I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down./ 2. To pull to pieces; take apart. •/It will be a big job to take that tree down./ •/In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down./ 3. {informal} To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble. •/Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down./ Syn.: TAKE DOWN A NOTCH.