take kindly of someone —(also: take it kindly of someone) accept smth. done by a person as a kindness or favor: I would take it kindly of you to move your car from in front of my house. take kindly to someone—be attracted to or pleased with a person: They don’t take kindly to me […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Take it up with someone vs Take up with someone
take it up with someone—ask a person to consider the matter in question: Take it up with the insurance company, would you? It’s not worth losing your no-claim bonus. take up with someone—associate or become friendly with a person, especially smb. undesirable: The woman he “took up with” was likely enough to be married herself […]
Take it out of someone vs Take it out on someone
take it out of someone— 1. said of smth. that exhausts or weakens a person: He needs rest. The excitement of the past few days has taken it out of him. 2. exact satisfaction from a person (for an offence): Now, you need to find a way to get the money back or your boss […]
Take it on the nose vs Take it through the nose
take it on the nose —(sl.) meet misfortune or defeat courageously (also: take it on the chin): And as the 1980s saw labor take it on the nose when choosing to strike, so the late 1990s have been an era of high-stakes labor wins. take it through the nose—(U.S. Drug users) inhale cocaine: He went […]
Take heart at something vs Take something to heart
take heart at something —(also: take heart from something) become more confident or encouraged by smth.: “I would have said the same of you,” he added wryly, and took heart at hearing Hugh laugh. take something to heart—(also: take something to one’s heart) 1. consider smth. seriously; be affected by smth.: If you take this […]
Take ground vs Take the ground
take ground— 1. (of ships) run aground: The Flying Scud took ground on a bank of sand and coral about twenty minutes before five. 2. (Military) take up a certain position: Uncertainty was at last removed, by his marching towards Arcot, and taking ground before it. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with […]
Take five vs Take the fifth
take five—(coll.) take a short rest period: Hey, Bob. I’m tired. Can we take five? take the fifth— 1. (U.S. legal) refuse to testify appealing to the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution: Accused criminals can “take the fifth” without fear of reprisal. 2. (coll.) decline to answer a question: I’ll take the fifth on that […]
Take charge of someone vs Take someone in charge
take charge of someone—assume the care of a person; attend to smb.’s needs: Bee was not well for a while, so I took charge of the babe. take someone in charge—arrest a person; take smb. into custody: The constable called at Mr. Johnson’s house and took him in charge. See also: put someone in charge […]
Take breath vs Take in breath
take breath —(also: take a breath) 1. pause to rest after exertion (to allow one’s breathing to return to normal): Halfway up the mountain we stopped to take breath. 2. take a break from one’s normal routine (in order to do smth. different): After the frenetic activity of the last four years, we need to take […]
Take air vs Take the air
take air— 1. go out for a walk; go out of doors: Guests went out to garden, later also brothers Werners went outside to take air. 2. (Ski jumping ) launch oneself into the air when skiing down a steep slope: I watch the guys take air and I say, “All right, I’m going to […]
Take after someone vs Take off after someone
take after someone— 1. resemble a parent or ancestor in character or appearance: I take after my mother in looks, but people say I’ve got my father’s character. 2. set out in pursuit of a person: Victoria, enraged, ends up in the path of a bucket of water and takes after the brutish men with […]
Take advantage of someone vs Take someone at advantage
take advantage of someone—outwit a person, especially unfairly; make undue use of an advantage: “You have brought me here under false pretences,” I cried. “You have taken cowardly advantage of me.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have the advantage of someone—(also: have an advantage over someone) have a better […]