Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[take up]{v.} 1. To remove by taking in. •/Use a blotter to take up the spilled ink./ •/When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug./ 2. To fill or to occupy. •/All his evenings were taken up with study./ •/The oceans take up the greater part of the earth’s surface./ •/The mayor has taken up residence on State Street./ 3. To gather together; collect. •/We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital./ 4. To take away. •/John had his driver’s license taken up for speeding./ 5a. To begin; start. •/The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday./ 5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby. •/He recently took up gardening./ •/He took up the carpenter’s trade as a boy./ Compare: GO INTO(3), GO IN FOR, TAKE TO. 6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. •/The tailor took up the legs of the trousers./ •/Take up the slack on the rope!/ Compare: TAKE IN(3). 7. To take or accept something that is offered. •/The boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up./ •/I took John up on his bet./ Compare: JUMP AT.

[take up arms]{v. phr.}, {literary}. To get ready to fight; fight or make war. •/The people were quick to take up arms to defend their freedom./ •/The President called on people to take up arms against poverty./ Contrast: LAY DOWN ONE’S ARMS.

[take upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.

[take up the cudgels for]{v. phr.}, {literary} To come to the defense of; to support or fight for. •/He was the first to take up the cudgels for his friend./ Compare: STAND UP FOR.

[take up with]{v.} To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot of. •/Frank has taken up with Lucy lately./

[take with a grain of salt] also [take with a pinch of salt]{v. phr.} To accept or believe only in part; not accept too much. •/A man who says he is not a candidate for President should usually have his statement taken with a grain of salt./ •/We took Uncle George’s stories of the war with a pinch of salt./

[taking pictures]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 MPH speed limit. •/The Smokeys are taking pictures!/

[tale] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

[talent scout]{n. phr.} A person employed by a large organization to seek out promising and gifted individuals. •/Gordon has been working as a talent scout for a television program./ Compare: HEAD HUNTING(2).

[talent show]{n.} An entertainment in which new entertainers try to win a prize. •/Mary won the talent show by her dancing./ •/The people liked Bill’s singing in the talent show./

[talk] See: DOUBLE-TALK, PEP TALK, SALES TALK, SWEET TALK.

[talk a blue streak]{v. phr.}, {informal} To talk on and on, usually very fast. •/Sue is a nice girl but after one drink she talks a blue streak and won’t stop./