Commonly-Used Idioms, Sayings and phrasal verbs - "T" Idioms doc

Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 858 T table a motion - to postpone the discussion of something during a meeting We tabled a motion to discuss the safety issue at another time. tag along with (someone) - to go with someone, to follow along with someone The little boy tagged along with his older brother when they went to the beach. tail between one`s legs - feeling ashamed or beaten The salesman resigned from his company with his tail between his legs after he told a lie about his expense account. tail wagging the dog - a situation where a small part controls the whole thing It is like the tail wagging the dog when the receptionist is able to control everything in the office. take Idioms take a backseat to (someone or something) - to accept a poorer or lower position than someone, to be second to someone or something I had to take a backseat to my boss when we went on the business trip. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 859 take a bath (on something) - to come to financial ruin, to lose much money on something My aunt took a bath on the stock market last year and she is afraid to buy stocks now. take a beating - to lose money My father took a beating when he sold his car. take a bow - to bow and receive credit for a good performance The violinist stopped to take a bow before she went backstage with the orchestra. take a break - to have a short rest period in one's work I stopped to take a break after working all morning. take a chance/risk - to try something where failure or bad fortune is likely I plan to take a chance and visit my friend without phoning first. take a course in (something) - to enroll in a class to study/learn something I am planning to take a course in photography next year. take a crack at (something) - to try/attempt to do something "Have you decided to take a crack at writing the entrance examination?" Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 860 take a dig at (someone) - to criticize someone, to say something that will irritate someone The man is always taking a dig at his wife. take a dim view of (something) - to be against something, to disapprove of something Our company takes a dim view of people who do not wear a suit and tie. take a fancy/liking to (someone or something) - to develop a fondness or a preference for someone or something The woman took a fancy to the new person who she was working with. take a gander at (someone or something) - to examine someone or something I asked the car mechanic to take a gander at the steering system on my car. take a hand in (something) - to help plan or do something The man is always ready to take a hand in any work that needs to be done. take a hard line (with someone) - to be firm with someone, to have a firm policy for dealing with someone The company takes a hard line with people who come to work late. take a hint - to understand what is hinted at and behave accordingly The man is unable to take a hint and does not notice when people are angry at him. 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. [...]... a taste of (something) - an experience of something, an example of something I was able to get a taste of playing tennis while I was on my holiday a taste of things to come - a sample of the events that are to occur in the future The tax increase was a taste of things to come with the new government tax -and- spend - spending freely and taxing heavily The government has a tax -and- spend attitude that many...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... (something) - to take control of something, to take command of something A large foreign company took control of our company last month take part in (something) - to participate in something "Are you planning to take part in the seminar next week?" take pity on (someone or something) - to feel sorry for someone or something I took pity on the man who was begging and I gave him some money take place - to happen,... Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com take root - to begin to take hold or have effect The ideas of honesty and good manners are beginning to take root in the school children take shape - to begin to be organized and specific (plans/ideas/arguments) The plans for our school reunion are beginnning to take shape take sick/ill - to become ill The little boy took sick early last night take sides - to support one side or the... (something) - to take advantage of someone's offer of something I took my friend up on his offer to let me borrow his new car take (someone or something) wrong - to misunderstand someone or something The man took what I said wrong and became very angry 878 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com take (something) - to endure something I find it very difficult to take the woman's constant complaining take (something) by storm -. .. storm and was able to capture all of the enemy soldiers take (something) for granted - to assume that something is a certain way or is correct "I took it for granted that you knew him Otherwise I would have introduced you." take (something) in stride - to accept good or bad luck and continue on The boxer took his loss in stride and began to prepare for his next fight take (something) into account - to... Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com take (something) on the chin - to experience and endure a direct blow or assault The man always takes things on the chin and he never complains take (something) out on (someone or something) - to direct one's anger or fear onto someone or something The woman often takes her anger out on her husband take (something) personally - to interpret a remark as if it were meant for or... decided to take the plunge and will get married next year take the rap for (someone or something) - to receive punishment for something, to be accused and punished for something, to receive punishment in place of someone else The owner of the restaurant was forced to take the rap over permitting underage workers to work at night 883 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com take the stand - to go and sit in the witness chair... any longer taken for dead - to be assumed to be dead The men in the coal mine were taken for dead after there was no contact for several days talk Idioms talk a blue streak - to talk very much and very rapidly The woman who sat behind me in the airplane talked a blue streak from when I first sat down talk back to (someone) - to answer someone rudely The woman is very strict and never allows her children... of (somewhere) - the subject of conversations somewhere The new theater production is the talk of the city talk oneself out - to talk until one can talk no more I met my friend at the coffee shop and we talked ourselves out talk out (a problem) - to discuss something until everything is agreed upon, to settle something We stayed up late last night and talked out the problem talk shop - to talk about . take a gander at (someone or something) - to examine someone or something I asked the car mechanic to take a gander at the steering system on my car. take a hand in (something) - to help. with people who come to work late. take a hint - to understand what is hinted at and behave accordingly The man is unable to take a hint and does not notice when people are angry at him 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