take the heat for something—(coll.) take the blame for smth.; endure severe criticism: We took the heat for oversleeping and missing our flight when we landed. take the heat off something—(also: take the heat out of something) 1. stop people criticizing or attacking smth.: The conference was designed to take the heat off his failure […]
Take stock in something vs Take stock of something
take stock in something—have faith in smth.; attach importance to smth.: She always tends to exaggerate, so if I were you, I wouldn’t take any stock in what she says. take stock of something—evaluate smth.; consider smth. carefully: In starting out to look for work, a man should take stock of his particular training and […]
Take someone into care vs Take someone into one’s care
take someone into care—take a child lacking proper supervision, etc. to an institution run by the government or local council: The little boy’s parents couldn’t look after him, so he has been taken into care. take someone into one’s care—assume the care of a person; attend to smb.’s needs: I consider it a privilege to […]
Take someone away vs Take someone off
take someone away—take smb. to another place; lead a person away: The prisoner was taken away by an armed guard. take someone off— 1. = take someone away: Before long the young prisoner was taken off for questioning. 2. rescue a person from a sinking ship: Before the ship sank, all the passengers were safely […]
Take someone at his word vs Take someone’s word
take someone at his word—assume that smb. means what he says and act accordingly, even if he may not have quite meant it: I was joking, but he took me at my word and arrived with a bag of sliced pork and herbs. take someone’s word—(also: take someone’s word for it) believe a person even […]
Take shape vs Take the shape
take shape— 1. become definite in form or outline: In a short time the bag began to distend and then the balloon took shape and form. 2. reach the necessary standard; become complete: As Robin’s plan took shape we could appreciate the brilliance of its simplicity. take the shape—take the form of a particular thing: […]
Take service vs Take the service
take service —(dated) 1. become employed: Poor boys, of good families, will often take service as apprentices. 2. join a fighting force: Recollect, that, whatever general you take service under, you will follow him. take the service—conduct divine worship: I’m not going to church this evening. The Vicar is taking the service and I can’t […]
Take rank of someone vs Take rank with someone
take rank of someone—be of superior rank or status to a person: The first wife, however, takes rank of all the others, and is considered mistress of the house. take rank with someone—be of the same rank or status as smb.: Far better is it to dare mighty things, than to take rank with those […]
Take one’s stand vs Take the stand
take one’s stand—take one’s place or position: The players, except one, take their stand at one side, and one stands at the other side in front of them. take the stand— 1. (U.S. legal) come into the witness box to give testimony: The judge next asked the defendant to take the stand. 2. take one’s […]
Take one’s orders vs Take orders
take one’s orders—receive directions or commands: The civil patrol serves under the command of the chief commissioner, who takes his orders from the army command. take orders— 1. = take one’s orders: Jules had to take orders from him pretending to go along with him in his ridiculous schemes. 2. (also: take holy orders) become […]
Take one’s medicine vs Take one’s own medicine
take one’s medicine—submit to smth. unpleasant; accept the punishment which one deserves: You go back and take your medicine like a man. take one’s own medicine—(also: take a dose of one’s own medicine) receive treatment of the same disagreeable kind as one has given smb. else: Having the polygraph policy mandated by a Congress that […]
Take one’s measures vs Take someone’s measure
take one’s measures—take certain steps in regard to a given situation, problem, etc.: After five minutes’ troubled reflection, Klimper took his measures. With unusual difficulty he procured a private interview. take someone’s measure— 1. determine the different dimensions of a person’s body for clothes, etc.: The tailor took my measure. Reichmann told him it must […]