[take down a notch] or [take down a peg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. •/The team was feeling proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a bad defeat./
[take effect]{v. phr.} 1. To have an unexpected or intended result; cause a change. •/It was nearly an hour before the sleeping pill took effect./ 2. To become lawfully right, or operative. •/The new tax law will not take effect until January./
[take exception to]{v. phr.} To speak against; find fault with; be displeased or angered by; criticize. •/There was nothing in the speech that you could take exception to./ •/Did she take exception to my remarks about her cooking./
[take five]{v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work or theatrical rehearsal. •/"All right, everyone," the director cried. "Let’s take five."/
[take for]{v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. •/Do you take me for a fool?/ •/At first sight you would take him for a football player, not a poet./
[take for a ride]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a car intending to murder. •/The gang leader decided that the informer must be taken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. •/The girls told Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride./ Compare: STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain. •/His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating her./
[take for granted]{v. phr.} 1. To suppose or understand to be true. •/Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his wife./ •/A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework./ Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything. •/George took for granted all that his parents did for him./ •/No girl likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better./
[take French leave]{v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. •/The party was so boring that we decided to take French leave./ •/While the Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the silver and took French leave./ See: SLIP AWAY.
[take heart]{v. phr.} To be encouraged; feel braver and want to try. •/The men took heart from their leader’s words and went on to win the battle./ •/When we are in trouble we can take heart from the fact that things often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE HEART.
[take heed]{v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listen carefully; notice. •/Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./
[take hold of]{v. phr.} To grasp. •/The old man tried to keep himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take hold of./
[take ill] or [take sick] {v.} To become sick. •/Father took sick just before his birthday./ — Used in the passive with the same meaning. •/The man was taken ill on the train./
[take in]{v.} 1. To include. •/The country’s boundaries were changed to fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ •/The class of mammals takes in nearly all warm-blooded animals except the birds./ 2. To go and see; visit. •/The students decided to take in a movie while they were in town./ •/We planned to take in Niagara Palls and Yellowstone Park on our trip./ 3. To make smaller. •/This waistband is too big; it must be taken in about an inch./ •/They had to take in some sail to keep the ship from turning over in the storm./ 4. To grasp with the mind; understand. •/He didn’t take in what he read because his mind was on something else./ •/He took in the situation at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. •/The teacher was taken in by the boy’s innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. To accept without question; believe. •/The magician did many tricks, and the children took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. •/The senior class held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars./ 6b. Let come in; admit. •/The farmer took in the lost travelers for the night./ •/When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders./ 7. To see or hear with interest; pay close attention to, •/When Bill told about his adventures, the other boys took it all in./
[take in stride]{v. phr.} To meet happenings without too much surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. •/He learned to take disappointments in stride./
[take in tow]{v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. •/Brian and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the circus./
[take into account]{v. phr.} To remember and understand while judging someone or something; consider. •/How much time will we need to get to the lake? You have to take the bad road into account./ •/His acting in the play was remarkable, taking into account his youth and inexperience./ Syn.: RECKON WITH. Contrast: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT.
[take issue with]{v. phr.} To be openly against; speak against; disagree with. •/He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take issue with him on the matter./
[take it]{v. phr.} 1. To get an idea or impression; understand from what is said or done. — Usually used with "I". •/I take it from your silence that you don’t want to go./ 2. {informal} To bear trouble, hard work, criticism; not give up or weaken. •/Henry could criticize and tease other boys, but he couldn’t take it himself./ •/Bob lost his job and his girl in the same week, and we all admired the way he took it./
[take it all in]{v. phr.} To absorb completely; listen attentively. •/Bill’s piano music filled the room and we took it all in with admiration./
[take it away]{v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression} You’re on; it’s your turn; you’re next. •/And here comes that wonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away. Bob."/