Page 407 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

take it or leave it

the chin. The worst luck comes my way, somłthing eloe of which you should takł
and I always end up takng it on the chin. noŁe.
takeŁitŁorŁleaveŁit to accept somethingŁ(the takeŁnoticeŁ(ofŁ something) to observe some-
wayŁit is)borŁforget it.Ł(Infàrmal.) This thing.Ł I didà’t take notice of when he
is my last offer. Take it or leave it. It’s came in. They say he came in lØte, but
not much, but it’s the oàly food we have. I didà’t take notice.
You can take it or leave it. takeŁoff 1. to leave the groundŁandŁbegin
takeŁitŁslow to move orŁgo slowly.Ł(Infàr- to fly.Ł(AsŁwith a birdŁor anŁairplane.)
mal.)b The road is rough, so take it slow. When do we take off? The eagle took
This book is very hard to read, and I off and headed toward the mountains. 2.
have to take it slow. to become pàpularŁandŁsuccessful.Ł Her
book really took off after her telłvision ap-
takeŁitŁto one’ grave to carry a secret with pearance. The idea took off, and sooà
one untilŁone dies.Ł I will never tell any- everyone was talkng about it.
one. I’ll take your secret to my grave. She
took the answłr to the mystery to her takeŁ offŁ (afterŁ someone ortsomething) and
grave. takeŁoutŁ(afterŁ someone ortsomething) to
beginŁto chase sàmeone or something.
takeŁ itŁ (up)on oneselft(to do something) to The bank guard took off after the robber.
make sàmethingŁone’sŁrespànsibility.Ł Did you see that police car take off?
I took it upon myself to order more płn- It took out after the bank robber’s car.
cils since we were running out of them.
I’m glad that you took it on yourself to do takeŁoffenseŁ(atŁ someone ortsomething) to be-
that. come resentful of someone or something.
Bill took offłnse at Mary for her
takeŁkindlyŁto something to be agreabl to thoughtless remarks. Almost everyone
something.Ł My father doesn’t take took offłnse at Bill’s new book. I’m sorry
kndly to anyone using his tools. I hopł you took offłnse. I meant no harm.
they’ll take kndly to our request.
takeŁoffŁ(from włrk) nàt to gà to work
takeŁleaveŁofŁ one’ senseð to become ir- (forŁaŁpriodŁof time).Ł I had to take off
rational.Ł(OftenŁverbatimŁwith oàe’s .) from work in order to renew my driver’s li-
What are you doing? Have you takłn leavł cłnse. I hate to take off for somłthing
of your senses? What a terrible situa- like that.
tion! It’s łnough to make one take leave of
one’s senses. takeŁoffice to beginŁservingŁasŁanŁelected
or appointedŁ official.Ł When did the
takeŁliberties withŁ someone ortsomething and mØyor take office? All the elected offi-
makeŁfree withŁ someone ortsomething to cials took office just after the election.
use or abuse sàmeone orŁsàmething.Ł takeŁ offŁ one’ hatŁ (to someone) to offer
You are overly familiar with me, Mr. Jones. praise for someone’sŁgoodŁaccomplish-
One might think you were takng liberties ments.Ł(RefersŁto takingŁoff one’sŁhat to
with me. I don’t like it when you make słow deference to sàmeone.) I have to
free with my lØwn mower. You should at take off my hat to Mayor Johnson. She has
least ask when you want to borrow it.
done an excellłnt job. Yes, we all ought
takeŁno stockŁin something and notŁtake to take off our hats. She is our best mØyor
stockŁin something to pay nà attention to ever.
sàmething;Łnot to blieve orŁaccept sàme- takeŁoffŁ(on something) and launch forth
thing.Ł I take no stock in anything John (on something) to start out a lecture on
has to say. He doesn’t take stock in your something;Ł to beginŁ aŁ discussionŁ of
opnions either.
sàmething. (See also set forth (on some-
takeŁnoteŁ(ofŁ something) to observe and re- thing).) My father took off on the sub-
mmber somthing. Please take noŁe of ject of taxes and talked for an hour. My
the point I’m about to make. Here is uncle is always launching forth on the state

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