[take off one’s hands]{v. phr.} 1. To abdicate one’s responsibility of a person or matter. •/"I am herewith taking my hand off your affairs," Lou’s father said. "See how you succeed on your own."/ 2. To buy; relieve someone of 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 big ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas for sale./ •/The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman on./ 2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). •/Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot./ •/After the students put up Christmas decorations, the classroom took on a holiday appearance./ 3a. To give a job to; hire; employ. •/The factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers./ Contrast: LET GO(4), LET OFF, LET OUT(6). 3b. To accept in 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 on anyway and beat them./ 4. {informal} To show great excitement, grief, or anger. •/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 one tells 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 very much; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight; astonish. •/The sunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away./ •/His refusal was so unexpected 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} To say good-bye and leave. •/He stayed on after most of the guests had taken their leave./ •/The messenger bowed and took leave of the queen./ — [leave-taking] {n.} The end of school in June is a time of leave-taking.
[take one’s life in one’s hands]{v. phr.} To face great danger or take great risk. •/Driving that car with those worn tires would be taking your life in your hands./ •/He took his life in his hands when he tried to capture the wild horse./
[take one’s measure] or [take the measure of] {v. phr.} To judge the character, quality, or nature of; try to guess about something — how hard or easy, dangerous or safe, good or bad, etc. •/The boxers sparred for a while taking each other’s measure./ •/John took the measure of the cliff before he climbed it./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take one’s medicine]{v. phr.} To accept punishment without complaining. •/The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was ready to take his medicine./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2).
[take one’s name in vain]{v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a witness to 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 hear someone 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 your time at this job than to hurry and make mistakes./
[take one’s word]{v. phr.} To believe one’s promise. •/Herb took Eric’s word when he promised to pay up his debt./
[take on faith]{v. phr.} To lend credence to something due to one’s confidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. •/One should never take on faith what one hears about Washington politics./
[take on oneself] or [take upon oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To accept as a duty or responsibility. •/He took it on himself to see that the packages were delivered./ 2. To assume wrongfully or without permission as a right or privilege. •/You should not have taken it upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family./
[take one wrong] See: GET ONE WRONG.
[take on the chin]{v. phr.} To gracefully accept criticism. •/It’s good to be able to tell people what they do wrong, but it is equally important to be able to take it on the chin when they tell you what you have done wrong./
[take out]{v. phr.} 1. To ask for and fill in. •/Mary and John took out a marriage license./ 2. To begin to run. •/When the window broke, the boys took out in all directions./ •/When the wind blew the man’s hat off, Charlie took out after it./ See: TAKE IT OUT ON.
[take out after]{v. phr.} To start pursuing one. •/The watchdog took out after the burglars./
[take out on]{v. phr.} To vent one’s sadness, frustration, or anger on someone who is usually innocent of the problem at hand. •/"Why are you always taking out your frustrations on me?" Jane asked Tom, when he slammed the door./
[take-out order]{n. phr.} An order in a restaurant that one does not eat on the premises, but takes home. •/The new Chinese restaurant on the corner sells nice take-out orders./
[take over]{v.} 1a. To take control or possession of. •/He expects to take over the business when his father retires./ 1b. To take charge or responsibility. •/The airplane pilot fainted and his co-pilot had to take over./ 2. To borrow, imitate, or adopt. •/The Japanese have taken over many European ways of life./
[take pains]{v. phr.} To do something very carefully and thoroughly. •/She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want./ •/She always takes pains with her appearance./
[take part]{v. phr.} To have a part or share; join. •/Jim saw the new boy watching the game and asked him to take part./ •/The Swiss did not take part in the two World Wars./
[take pity on] also [take pity upon] {v. phr.} To feel sympathy or pity and do something for. •/Mary took pity on the orphan kittens./ •/The farmer took pity upon the campers, and let them stay in his barn during the rain./