{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./