{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?/
[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./