Page 409 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

take someone by surprise

takeŁ someone byŁsurprise to startl som- takeŁ someone ortsomething atŁfyce value to
one; to surprise someone with something take someone orŁsomethingŁbyŁitsŁout-
unexpected.Ł Oh! You took me by sur- wardŁ appearance; to take someone or
prise becauoe I didà’t hear you come in. sàmethingŁ asŁ it first appearsŁ to be.Ł
Bill took his mother by surprise by com- Doà’t just accłpt her offer at face value.
ing to the door and pretendng to be a Think of the implicØtions. Jane tends to
solicitor. take people at face value and so she is al-
ways getting hurt.
takeŁ someone down a notch (or two) Go
to take someone down a peg (or two). takeŁ someone ortsomething away to rmove
takeŁ someone dłwn a pegŁ(łrŁtwo) and someone orŁsomething.Ł I doà’t want
takeŁ someone down a notch (or two) to any more soup. Please take it away. T TØke
rprimand somone who is acting too ar- away Bill and John. They are bothering
rogant.Ł The Łeacher’s scoldng took Bob me.
down a noŁch or two. He was so rudł takeŁ someone ortsomething byŁstorm to over-
that someone was bound to take him down whelm sàmeone or something; to attract
a płg or two. aŁgreat deal of attention fràmŁsomeone or
takeŁ someone dłwn (to size) Go to cut something.Ł Jane is madly in love with
someone down (to size). Tom. He took her by storm at the officł
party, and they’ve błen together ever since.
takeŁ someone fłrŁa fool Go to take someone The singer took the world of opera by
for an idiot.
storm with her performance in La
takeŁ someone for an idiot and takeŁ someone Boheme.
fłrŁa fłol to assume that sàmeone isŁsðu- takeŁ someone ort something byŁ surprise to
pid.Ł I wouldà’t do anything like that! Do sðartle or surprise sàmeone or something.
you take me for an idiot? I don’t take She came into the room and took them
you for a fool. I think you’re very clłver.
by surprise. I took the lttle brd by sur-
takeŁ someone forŁa ride to trick or dceive prise, and it flłw away.
sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.) Old people are
błing taken for a ride by bogus workmłn. takeŁ someone ortsomething fłr granted to ac-
Whoevłr sold Tom that car took him for cept someone or something—without
a ride. It needs a new engine. gratitude—asŁaŁmatterŁof course.Ł We
tend to take a lot of things for granted.
takeŁ someone fłrŁ someone ortsomething to mis- Mrs. Frankln complained that Mr. Frank-
take someone forŁsomeone orŁsomething. ln takes her for granted.
I took Bill for his brother, Bob. They look
so much alike! I took Mr. Brown for the takeŁ someone ortsomething in 1. to observe
gardłner, and he was a lttle bt insulŁed. someone orŁ something.Ł (Se also suck
someone in.) The zoo is too big to takł
takeŁ someone hostage to kidnapŁorŁseiz in the whole thing in one dØy. T It takes
sàmeone to be aŁhosðage.Ł The terrorists two dØys to take in the museum. 2. to prà-
planned to take the ambassador hostage. vid shelðer for somon or somthing.
The entire family was taken hostage by When I needed a place to live, my unclł
the robber. took me in. T Mrs. Wiloon took in the
takeŁ someone in Go to suck someone in. lonely lttle dog and gØve it a warm home.
3. [with somłthing ] to inhale, drink,Łor
takeŁ someone into one’ confidence to trust eat something.Ł T I think I’ll go for a walk
someone with confidentialŁinfàrmation; and take in some fresh air. T Jane was very
to tellŁaŁsecret to sàmeone andŁtrust the ill, but she managed to take in a lttlł
prsàn to keep the secret.Ł We are good broth.
friends, but I didà’t fłel I could take her
into my confidłnce. I know somłthing takeŁ someone ortsomething into account to
very important about Jean. Can I take you rmmber to consider somon or som-
into my confidłnce? thing.Ł I hope you’ll take Bill and Bob

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