take a long look —(also: take a long, hard look) make a detailed and intense examination: Wisconsin residents should take a long look at what their so-called representatives are doing with their money. take a long view—consider events, etc. a long time ahead; have regard for the future: Kennedy called for Americans to take a long […]
Take a liberty vs Take the liberty
take a liberty—(also: take liberties) 1. be unduly or improperly familiar with a person: He would be a bold man who ventured to take a liberty with her, or to overstep the limits laid down by her. 2. make free with smth. such as rules, facts, etc.: I’ll take a liberty with the phrase. To call […]
Take a leave vs Take leave vs Take one’s leave
take a leave—(also: take a leave of absence) take a holiday: I took a leave without pay because I was, of course, being paid by the Colonial Office to go there. take leave— 1. part (from a person) with some expression of farewell: Before he went abroad, he took leave of all his associates. 2. […]
Take a hand at something vs Take a hand in something
take a hand at something—participate in a single round of a card game: We have a room where we can take a hand at whist. take a hand in something—participate or be involved in smth.: We had almost got the plan worked out when the manager decided to take a hand in it.
Take a good part of something vs Take something in good part
take a good part of something—(of an activity) extend over much of the period: We went to the art gallery and explored it thoroughly, which took a good part of the day. take something in good part—show that one is not offended; accept smth. good-naturedly: We had a good laugh at her expense, poor girl, […]
Take a flight vs Take flight
take a flight—make a journey by air: She had to drive home alone, while he took a shuttle flight in the opposite direction. take flight—(also: take to flight) 1. run away (from danger, etc.): Fear and panic gripped people and many took flight into fields and woods at the air-raid warning. 2. (of birds) rise […]
Take a fancy to someone vs Take the fancy of someone
take a fancy to someone—become fond of a person: What could have made Miss Crowther take such a fancy to the boy? take the fancy of someone—appeal to a person; win smb.’s favor: She became very active in the church group and soon took the fancy of Jeffrey Lundgren.
Take a fall vs Take the fall
take a fall— 1. lose one’s balance and drop to the ground: When I took a fall and hurt my arm, Michele called me at home to see how I was. 2. (U.S. Underworld) be arrested (also: take a dive): Jack had taken a fall on a safe job and was in the Bronx County […]
Take a dive vs Take a nose-dive
take a dive— 1. (of a plane) make a sudden precipitate descent: The plane took a dive and disappeared underneath a mushroom-shaped cloud. 2. go into a rapid decline: By 10:30 the company’s stock had taken a dive from more than $110 dollars a share to just over $40. 3. (Boxing ) fake being knocked […]
Take a count vs Take the count
take a count—estimate how many there are of smth.: By taking a count we established that catering units were covering their seats 250 per cent at lunch time. take the count— 1. = take a count: Deborah took the count of members who plan to attend and asked them to refer to her any special […]
Take a chair vs Take the chair
take a chair—(also: have a chair) take a seat; be seated: When he came back to the house he refused to take a chair or a drink. take the chair— 1. preside over a meeting, committee, etc.: At my third meeting I was asked to take the chair. I consented as offhandedly as if I […]
Take a beating and Take some beating
take a beating— 1. (of one’s pride, reputation, etc.) suffer badly: My confidence and courage took a beating when I got calls threatening dire consequences. 2. (Sport) be defeated: This was the second time the Dutch team took a beating from Spain at this championship. 3. lose a lot of money: Not surprisingly, the company […]