Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.

[take a hint] <v. phr.> To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/

[take a joke] <v. phr.> Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./

[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a load off one's feet] <v. phr.> To alleviate one's fatigue

by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your feet?"/

[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.

[take amiss] or [the wrong way] <v. phr.> To become offended due to a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/

[take a new turn] <v. phr.> To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's directorship./

[take a nose dive] <v. phr.> To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart attack./

[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.

[take apart] <v. phr.> To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./

[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.

[take a powder] <v. phr.>, <slang> To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./

[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] <v. phr.> To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./

[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.

[take a shine to] <v. phr.>, <slang> To have or show a quick liking for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.

[take a shot at] <v. phr.> To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/

[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[take a spill] <v. phr.> To fall down; tip over. * /During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./

[take at one's word] <v. phr.> To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat, I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./

[take a stand] <v. phr.> To assert one's point. of view; declare one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./

[take a turn] <v. phr.> To become different; change. * /Mary's fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./

[take a turn for the better] <v. phr.> To start improving; start to get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./

[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER.

[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.

[take back] <v.> To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./

[take by storm] <v. phr.> 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.

[take by surprise] <v. phr.> 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ * /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. * /Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ * /When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./

[take by the scruff] <v. phr.> 1. To assert authority over a person. * /Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. * /The boss took us by the scruff when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some difficulty. * /Someone had better take the post office by the scruff; there are too many customer complaints pouring in./

[take care] <v. phr.> To be careful; use wisdom or caution. * /Take care that you don't spill that coffee!/ * /We must take care to let nobody hear about this./

[take care of] <v. phr.> 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. * /She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2), LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. <informal> To deal with; do what is needed with. * /I will take care of that letter./ * /The coach told Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO.

[take charge] <v. phr.> To begin to lead or control; take control or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or things). * /When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for them./ * /The child care class gave a party for the nursery children, and Mary took charge of the games./ * /John was elected the new president of the club and took charge at the next meeting./ * /Bob is a natural leader, and can take charge in an emergency./ Compare: IN CHARGE(2).

[take cold] See: CATCH COLD.

[take cover] <v. phr.> To seek shelter or protection. * /The rain began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway./

[take down] <v.> 1. To write or record (what is said). * /I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down./ 2. To pull to pieces; take apart. * /It will be a big job to take that tree down./ * /In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down./ 3. <informal> To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble. * /Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down./ Syn.: TAKE DOWN A NOTCH.