Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[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.

[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. /