{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./