Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 861 take a leaf out of (someone's) book - to behave or do something in the way that someone else would We plan to take a leaf out of our competitor's book and advertise our product on the Internet. take a leak - to urinate The man stopped at the side of the road to take a leak when he was walking home last night. take a look at (someone or something) - to examine (usually briefly) someone or something I will take a look at the problem with the computer tomorrow. take a look for (someone or something) - to look for someone or something Tomorrow I will take a look for the pen which I lost. take a nap - to have a brief period of sleep I stopped to take a nap before I continued driving to see my parents. take a new turn - to begin a new course or direction The campaign to clean up the river took a new turn when the large electricity company joined in the campaign. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 862 take a potshot at (someone or something) - to criticize someone or something The mayor of the city decided to take a potshot at his opponent in the election. take a powder - to leave quickly, to run away I think that our boss took a powder right after the meeting. take a punch at (someone) - to strike someone with one's fist The man in the restaurant suddenly took a punch at the waiter. take a shine to (someone) - to have or show a quick liking for someone Our daughter took a shine to her new teacher and is very happy at school now. take a shot/stab at (doing something) - to try to do something I plan to take a shot at golfing when I am on vacation. take a shower/bath - to bathe I usually take a shower when I get home from work. take a spill - to have a fall, to tip over The little boy took a spill when he was trying to learn how to ride his bicycle. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 863 take a stand on (something) - to declare firmly that one is for or against something The politician was forced to take a stand on the tax issue. take a toll on (someone or something) - to damage/hurt someone or something by using it too much or by hard living The stress and long hours at work are beginning to take a toll on my friend. take a trip - to go for a journey We plan to take a trip to Italy in November. take a turn for the better - to start to improve or get well The medical condition of my uncle has recently taken a turn for the better. take a turn for the worse - to start to get worse The condition of the patient suddenly took a turn for the worse. take a vacation - to go somewhere for a vacation I have much stress at work and I want to take a vacation next month. take a whack at (someone) - to hit someone The man on the bus suddenly took a whack at the man sitting beside him. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 864 take a whack at (something) - to try something I took a whack at fixing the car but I was unsuccessful. take advantage of (someone or something) - to use someone or something for one`s own benefit We took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach. take after (someone) - to resemble or act like someone (usually a parent or relative) The boy is tall and handsome like his father and takes after him in other ways as well. take aim at (someone or something) - to aim a gun/camera/policy at someone or something, to focus one's attention at someone or something The police department plan to take aim at people who do not stop at stop signs. take an interest in (something) - to develop an interest in something Recently my cousin has taken an interest in fishing. take an oath - to make an oath, to swear to something I had to take an oath before I could answer questions at the public hearing. take attendance - to make a record of persons attending something Our teacher always takes attendance when we arrive in the morning. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 865 take back (something) - to admit to making a wrong statement The man was asked to take back what he had said about his boss. take care of (someone or something) - to look after or give attention to someone or something You should take care of your health or you will become sick. take care of (something) - to deal with something, to do what is necessary to accomplish something "Could you please take care of these letters while I make some phone calls." take charge of (someone or something) - to take control of someone or something The new supervisor quickly took charge of the staff in the fast food restaurant. take down (something) - to write or record something that is said at a meeting/lecture/discussion I took down many notes during the lecture last week. take down (something) - to take something apart, to pull something to pieces We took down our tent when it began to rain. take effect - to become legally operative, to begin The new traffic laws took effect early last month. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 866 take exception to (something) - to speak against something, to find fault with something, to be angered by something The man took exception to the fact that everyone was able to play golf except him. take five - to take a five-minute rest period We decided to take five before continuing with our work. take great pains to do (something) - to make a great effort to do something The painters took great pains not to spill any paint on the carpet. take heart - to be encouraged, to feel brave and want to try something I took heart from my previous failure and decided to try again. take heed - to be cautious It is best to take heed when you are crossing the street. take hold of (someone or something) - to get in control of someone or something Something seemed to take hold of the man and he began to act very strange. take ill/sick - to become sick The woman took ill during her holiday and spent most of the time in her hotel. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 867 take in (money) - to receive/get money We were able to take in a lot of money at the charity auction. take in (someone) - to let someone come in, to admit someone The farmer took the couple in for the night after their car broke down. take in (something) - to go and see or visit something We decided to take in a movie last night. take in (something) - to make something smaller The tailor took in the waist of my suit pants and now they fit much better. take in (something) - to grasp something with the mind The course was very difficult but I tried to take in as much as possible. take inventory - to make an inventory list, to count the goods in a store or warehouse We stayed late at our store to take inventory. take issue with (someone or something) - to argue with someone, to dispute a point with someone, to dispute something I decided to take issue with my supervisor when he began to criticize my work. I took issue with my new work schedule. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 868 take it - to endure trouble/criticism/abuse My friend is quite sensitive and cannot take it when I make a joke about him. take it - to get an idea or impression, to understand something from what is said or done "I take it that you are not going to come to the graduation ceremony next week." take it away - to start up a performance "Let's take it away and get the music started." take it easy - to relax I have been working hard recently so I have decided to take it easy for a few days. take it easy on (someone or something) - to be gentle, to use less of something rather than more I tried to take it easy on the sugar when I was making the fruit punch. take it on the chin - to be badly beaten or hurt, to accept trouble calmly Our team took it on the chin at the baseball tournament last week. take it or leave it - to accept something or forget it The customer was told to take it or leave it when he began to complain about the product. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 869 take it out on (someone or something) - to be unpleasant or unkind to someone because one is angry or upset Although the man has much stress at work he is careful not to take it out on his friends or family. take it slow - to move or go slowly I always take it slow when it is snowing. take it upon oneself (to do something) - to undertake to do something, to make something one's responsibility I decided to take it upon myself to fix the broken window in our apartment. take its toll - to cause loss or damage My father's new job and the long hours have begun to take its toll on his health. take kindly to (someone or something) - to be pleased by someone or something, to be agreeable to someone or something The man does not take kindly to people telling him how to run his business. take leave of one's senses - to become irrational I think that my neighbor has taken leave of his senses. He has been acting very strange lately. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 870 take liberties with (someone or something) - to use or abuse someone or something The girl is taking liberties with her friend by always borrowing her car. take no stock in (something) - to pay no attention to something I am beginning to take no stock in what my next-door neighbor says. take note of (something) - to observe and remember something The police are taking note of the people who go into the illegal business. take notice of (something) - to observe something The city workers take notice of the houses which do not follow the local garbage regulations. take off - to depart suddenly or quickly, to run away We decided to take off when the concert ended. take off - to leave (used for an airplane) The flight took off right on time. take off after (someone or something) - to begin to chase someone or something The fox took off after the rabbit which jumped out of the hole. . garbage regulations. take off - to depart suddenly or quickly, to run away We decided to take off when the concert ended. take off - to leave (used for an airplane) The flight took off. took down many notes during the lecture last week. take down (something) - to take something apart, to pull something to pieces We took down our tent when it began to rain. take effect . something one's responsibility I decided to take it upon myself to fix the broken window in our apartment. take its toll - to cause loss or damage My father's new job and the long hours