Page 411 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
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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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