EXPRESSIONS WITH TAKE

Take is one of the most frequently used words in English. Needless to say, nearly fifty expressions in current use incorporate the verb take.

Take something / somebody for granted

There are two meanings for this expression.

To take somebody for granted is to benefit from their help without bothering to acknowledge it.

• Children often take their parents for granted. (= Children benefit from their parents’ help but they do not always acknowledge it.)
• You can’t take her for granted. She has no obligation to help you.

To take something for granted is to assume that it will happen.

• In a democratic system, we take many things for granted.

Take it as it comes

To take things as they come is to deal with them in order.

Take it lying down

To take it lying down is to suffer insult without protesting.

• She is an independent woman. Don’t expect her to take it lying down.

Take it on the chin

To take it on the chin is to boldly accept a difficult or bad situation without complaining.

• Although her latest book was panned by critics, she took it on the chin and started working on the next.

Take it out on someone

To take it out on someone is to give vent to your frustration by being unpleasant to someone.

• If he has a bad day at work, he will take it out on his wife.

Take one’s breath away

If something takes your breath away, it is extremely beautiful.

• Her beauty took his breath away.

Take someone to the cleaners

To take someone to the cleaners is to deprive them of their money or valuables.

• They took me to the cleaners.

Take someone for a ride

To take someone for a ride is to deceive them.

• I lent him $100 without realizing that he was taking me for a ride.