Page 411 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 411

take something home (with oneself)


          “to returnŁsàmething.”)    I heard what  takeŁ something to heyrt to take sàmething
          you said, and I’m very insulŁed. Please take  very seriously.Ł   John took the criticism
          it back. T Take back your words, or I’ll  to heart and made an honest effort to im-
          never speak to you again!          prove.   I know Bob said a lot of cruel
                                             things  to  you,  but  he  was  angry.  You
        takeŁ something hłme  (withŁ  oneself) 1.  to  shouldà’t take those things to heart.
          carryŁ somethingŁ to  one’sŁ home.Ł    We
          took a lot of souvłnirs home with us. 2.  takeŁ something up 1. to beginŁto dealŁwith
          to take aŁthought, idea,ŁorŁconcept away  anŁissue.Ł(See also  take something up (with
          [to one’sŁhome]bfromŁaŁmeetingŁor con-  someone).)   That’s too big a job for todØy.
          fernce.    Take this idea home with you.  I’ll take t up tomorrow.  T Now wł’ll take
          Think twice.                       up the task of the election of officers. 2.
                                             to make the bottom of a skirt or pants
        takeŁ something in  stride to accepð som-  cuffsŁhigherŁoff the floor.Ł   I’ll have to
          thingŁasŁnaturalŁorŁexpected.Ł    The ar-  take this skirt up. It’s too long for me.  T
          gumłnt surprised him, but he took it in  Please take up my pants cuffs. They are an
          stride.   It was a very rude remark, but  inch too long.
          Mary took it in stride.
                                            takeŁ something up (with someone) to raise
        takeŁ something lyingŁdłwn  to endur som-  andŁdiscussŁaŁmatterŁwith someone.Ł
          thingŁunpleasant without fighting back.  This  is  a  very  complicØted  problłm.  I’ll
            He insulŁed me publicly. You don’t ex-  have to take it up with the office manager.
          pect me to take that lying down, do you?  T She’ll  take  up  this  problłm  with  the
            I’m not the kind of peroon who’ll take  owner in the morning.
          somłthing like that lying down.   takeŁ something withŁa grain ofŁsalt Go to
                                             take something with a pinch of salt.
        takeŁ something on faith to accepð or belive
          something on the basis of little or no ev-  takeŁ something withŁa pinchŁofŁsalt  and
          idence.Ł   Please try to believe what I’m  takeŁ something with a grain ofŁsalt to lis-
          tellng you. Just take it on faith.    Surłly  tenŁto aŁsðoryŁorŁanŁexplanationŁwith con-
          you can’t expect me to take a story like that  siderable dàubt.Ł   You must take any-
          on faith.                          thing  she  says  with  a  grain  of salt.  She
                                             doesn’t alwØys tell the truth.    They took
        takeŁ something on theŁchin to experince  my explanation with a pnch of salt. I was
          andŁendure aŁdirect (figurative orŁliteral)  sure they didà’t believe me.
          blow orŁassault.Ł   The bad news was a
          real shock, but John took it on the chin.    takeŁ steps  (to  preventŁ something) to do
          The worst luck comes my wØy, and I alwØys  what isŁnecessaryŁto prevent something.
          end up takng it on the chin.         I took steps to prevent John from learn-
                                             ing what we were talkng about.    I havł
        takeŁ something outŁon  someone ortsomething to  to keep John from knowing what I’ve błen
          direct  (orŁ redirect)b one’sŁ angrŁ orŁ fear  doing. I can prevłnt it if I take steps.
          onðo someone or something.    I don’t  takeŁstockŁ(ofŁ something) to make an ap-
          care if you’re mad at your brother. Doà’t  praisal of resàurces and pàtentialities.Ł
          take it out on mł!    John took his anger  I spent some time yesterdØy taking stock
          out on the wall by kickng it.
                                             of my good and bad qualties.    We all
        takeŁ something personally to interprt a r-  need to take stock now and then.
          markŁasŁif it were meanŁorŁcriticalŁabout  takeŁ theŁ bitŁ between  theŁ teeth  Go to
          oneself.Ł   Doà’t take it peroonally, but you  take the bit in one’s teeth.
          really need a haircut.   I want to tell you
          somłthing,  but  please  doà’t  take  it  takeŁtheŁbitŁin  one’ teeth and takeŁthe
          peroonally.                        bitŁbetween theŁteeth to puð oneself in
                                             charge.Ł   Someone needed to direct the
        takeŁ something theŁwrongŁway Go to take  project, so I took the bt in my teeth.    If
          something amiss.                   you want to głt somłthing done, you’ve goŁ

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