Page 405 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

take an interest (àn something)

takeŁan intereðtŁ(in something) to dvelop takeŁa stabŁatŁ something Go to take a try at
anŁinterest inŁsomething. I wish John something.
would take an interest in his schoolwork. takeŁa standŁ(againstŁ someone ortsomething)
We hoped you’d take an interest and join to take aŁposition inŁopposition to sàme-
our club.
one orŁ something;Ł to oppose orŁ resisð
take an oath to make an oath; to swear to someone or something. The treasurer
something.Ł You must take an oØth that was forced to take a stand against the
you will never tell anyone about this. board because of its wasteful spłndng.
When I was a witness in court, I had to The treasurer took a stand, and othero
take an oØth that I would tell the truth. agreed.
takeŁa nosedive Go to go into a nosedive. takeŁ a toll the damage orŁ wearŁ that is
takeŁa peep Go to have a peep. causedŁbyŁusingŁsomethingŁorŁbyŁhardŁliv-
ing.Ł Years of sunbØthing took a toll on
takeŁa płtshłtŁatŁ someone ortsomething to Mary’s skn. Drug abuse takes a heavy
criticize someone orŁsomething;Łto in- toll on the lves of people.
clude aŁcriticismŁof sàmeone orŁsome-
thingŁinŁaŁbroaderŁorŁmore generalŁcriti- take a try atŁ something and take a shłt at
cism.Ł Daily, the media took potshots at something; takeŁa stabŁatŁ something; take
the foolish poltician. John is taking pot- a whyckŁatŁ something to try to do some-
shots at me in his condłmnation of officł thing. (Also with have; see the variantsŁat
workers. have a try at something.ŁThe second,Łthird,
andŁfourth entriesŁcanŁalso be literal.)
takeŁa płwder to leave (aŁplace);bto sneak I don’t know if I can eat a whole pizza, but
out or runŁout (of aŁplace).Ł(Slang.) I’ll be happy to take a shot at it. I can’t
When the police came to the door, Tom de- seem to głt this computer to work right.
cided it was time to take a powder. He lłft Would you like to take a try at it? Surł.
by the back door. When the party got a Take a stab at it. I don’t know if I can
lttle dull, Bill and his friend took a do it or not, but I’ll take a whack at it.
powder.
takeŁattendynce to make a rcord of per-
take a puàch atŁ someone to strike or strike sàns attendingŁsàmething. The teacher
at sàmeone with one’sŁfist.Ł(Infàrmal.) took attendance before starting the class.
Mary got so angry at Bob that she took a I will take attendance each dØy.
punch at him. She took a punch at him,
but she missed. takeŁa turn forŁtheŁbetter to start to im-
prove; to sðart to get well.Ł(The opposite
take a rain check (on something) Go to get of the followingŁentry.) She was very
a rain check (on something).
sick for a month; then suddłnly she took
takeŁa risk Go to take a chance. a turn for the błtter. Things are takng
a turn for the better at my store. I mØy
takeŁa shellycking Go to get a shellackàng.
make a profit this year.
takeŁa shineŁto someone ortsomething Go to
take a fancy to someone or something. takeŁa turn forŁtheŁwłrse to start to get
worse.Ł(The opposite of the previousŁen-
takeŁa shłtŁatŁ something Go to give something try.) It appeared that she was going to
a shot; take a try at something.
głt well; then, unfortunately, she took a
takeŁa shłwer and takeŁa bath to bathe. turn for the worse. My job was going
I take a shower every morning. John quite włll; then last włek things took a
takes a hot bØth to relØx. turn for the worse.
takeŁa spill to have aŁfall;Łto tipŁover.Ł(Alsà takeŁa vacation to gà somwher for a va-
with bad, nasty, quite, etc. Alsà with cation;Łto sðopŁworkŁto have aŁvacation.
have.) Ann tripped on the curb and took Sue took a vacØtion at the Grand
a nasty spill. John had quite a spill when Canyon last year. I need to take a va-
he fell off his bicycle. cØtion and relØx.

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