[take it easy]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. or [go easy] or [take things easy] To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. — Often used with "on". •/Take it easy. The roads are icy./ •/"Go easy," said Billy to the other boys carrying the table down the stairs./ •/"Take it easy on John and don’t scold him too much," said Mrs. Jones to Mr. Jones./ •/Go easy on the cake. There isn’t much left./ 2. or [take things easy] To avoid hard work or worry; have an easy time; live in comfort. •/The doctor said that Bob would have to take things easy for awhile after he had his tonsils out./ •/Barbara likes to take it easy./ •/Grandfather will retire from his job next year and take things easy./ •/Mr. Wilson has just made a lot of money and can take things easy now./
[take it from the top]{v. phr.}, {informal}{Musical and theatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. •/The conductor said, "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 suddenly took it into his head to leave school and get a job./ •/Grandmother keeps a bag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a notion./
[take it on the chin]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beaten or hurt. •/Our football team really took it on the chin today. They are all bumps 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; accept trouble or defeat calmly. •/A good football player can take it on the chin when his team loses./
[take it or leave it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To accept something without 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 unkind to (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings by being mean to. — Often used with the name of the feeling instead of "it." •/The teacher was angry and took it out on the class./ •/Bob was angry because Father would not let him use the car, and he took it out on his little brother./
[take its toll]{v. phr.} To cause loss or damage. •/The bombs had taken their toll on the little town./ •/The budget cut took its toll of teachers./
[take kindly to]{v.} To be pleased by; like. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. •/He doesn’t take kindly to any suggestions about running his business./ •/Will your father take kindly to the idea of your leaving college?/
[take leave of]{v. phr.} I. To abandon, go away from, or become separated 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 swallow a live goldfish./
[take liberties]{v. phr.} To act toward in too close or friendly a manner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own. •/Mary would not let any boy take liberties with her./ •/Bill took liberties with Tom’s bicycle./ Compare: MAKE FREE WITH.
[take lying down]{v. phr.} To accept something without defense or protest. •/If you take such insults lying down, you will only encourage more of the same./
[taken aback] also [taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. •/When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken 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 carefully at; pay close attention to; observe well. •/A detective is trained to take note 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 took no notice of them./ •/The principal thanked everyone who helped in the program, 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 task honestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. •/Mary took her oath that she did not steal the watch./ •/John took oath that he would fill the office of president faithfully./
[takeoff]{n.} 1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming airborne. •/The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a wonderfully smooth takeoff./ 2. Imitation; a parody. •/Vaughn Meader used to do a wonderful 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 drug store./ 2. To leave on a flight, begin going up. •/A helicopter is able to take off and land straight up or down./ 3. {informal} To imitate amusingly; copy another person’s habitual actions or speech. •/He made a career of taking off famous people for nightclub audiences./ •/At the party, 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 from work./ •/Bill was tired out so he took the day off./
[take off one’s hat to]{v. phr.} To give honor, praise, and respect to. •/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. •/Why do you always take offense at everything I say?/