Phrasal verb take

take + aback  [be taken aback by something] be so surprised or shocked by something that you stop what you are doing and cannot think or behave normally

take + after  [take after a member of your family] resemble a member of your family in your appearance, behaviour or character

take + against  [British] [take against someone or something] start do dislike someone or something for no good reason

take + along  [take someone or something along when you are going somewhere] someone or something accompanies you there or you have them with you

take + apart  [take something apart] separate something into different parts that it is made from  [take apart something such as an argument or an essay] analyse something carefully in order to show what its weaknesses are

take + around / round  [take someone around/ round a place] go a place with someone and show them all the interesting or important features [=show around]

take + aside  [take someone aside] separate someone from the rest of a group in order to talk to them privately

take + away  [take something away from a place or position] remove something and put it somewhere else  [take something away from a person] remove something and prevent a person from having it any more  [someone takes you away] go with someone to stay in another place  [someone takes you away] someone force you to go with them, for example to prison or a mental hospital  [something takes you away from a person, place, or activity] something prevents you from being with that person, being in that place, or continuing that activity  [take away something such as a quality or idea] destroy something, spoil it or get rid of it in some way  [something takes your breath away] something is so beautiful, exciting, or surprising that you are unable to speak or breathe normally for a moment  [take something away from an experience or situation] something has a lasting effect or influence on you in that respect  [take one number or amount away from another] subtract the first from the second

take + away + from  [someone takes you away from your husband, wife, or lover] someone causes you to leave your husband, wife, or lover, and have a relationship with them instead  [take away from something] make something lower in value, standard, or amount than it should be or than it was [=detract from]

take + back  [take something back to a place where you were or where it was before] go that place with something  [take back something with you borrowed or bought] return something to the place or person that you got it from, for example because you have finished using it or because it is damaged  [take back something which you gave to someone] agree to accept something from someone  [take back something which you had before] act forcefully so that you have it again  [take someone back to the place where they were or to your home] go with someone there, usually after arranging to do so  [take someone back after a quarrel or separation] agree to let someone lives with you or works with you again  [take back something that you have said or thought] admit that you were wrong  [take someone or something back to the past] start discussing or considering what happened then  [something takes you back] something reminds you of a period in your past, and makes you think about it again

take + down  [take someone or something down] go with someone or something, or make them go with you, to a lower level, position, or place  [take something down from a high place such as a shelf] reach up and get something, so that you can use it  [take down something that is attached to a wall, post, or other object] unfasten or disconnect something and remove it  [take down a barrier, tent, or other structure] undo or unfasten a barrier, tent or other structure and remove it or put it away  [take down what someone is saying] listen to someone and write what someone is saying down or record it  [someone or something takes you down] someone or something makes you feel less confident or less happy with yourself

take + in  [take someone or something in] go with someone or something into a room, building or other place, such as the centre of a town  [take someone in your arms] put your arms around someone  [take someone in to your house] allow someone to live in your house, either as a favour or in return for payment  [an organization, school, or hospital takes you in] an organization, school or hospital accepts you or has you as a member, student, patient, and so on  [the police take you in] the police makes you go with them to a police station in order to answer questions or to arrest you  [be taken in by someone] someone deceive or trick you in some way  [take in something that you see, hear, or read] pay attention to something that you see, hear, or read and is able to understand it, remember it, or evaluate it

take + in (cont’d)  [take something in] include something  [one thing takes in another] one thing is big enough to include the other thing within it  [take in something such as a film, a museum, or a place, while you are on holiday or travelling somewhere] go to see a film or visit a museum or place  [take in the milk, the washing, the newspaper] bring the milk, the washing, the newspaper into your house from outside  [take in your car, a machine] go with your car or a machine to a place where it can be serviced or repaired  [people or animals take in air, drink, food] air, drink or food enters people’s or animals’ bodies, for example because they breathe it or swallow it  [take in a dress, jacket or other item of clothing] make a dress, jacket or other item smaller and tighter by altering its seams  [American] [a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money] a store, restaurant, theatre or other business gets that amount from people buying goods or services

take + into  [take someone or something into a place] go with someone or something to a place  [take someone into an organization, school, or hospital] accept someone as a member, student, patient  [people or animals take something into their bodies] something enters people’s or animals’ bodies, for example because they breathe it or swallow it  [something takes you into a particular subject or activity] something causes you to consider a particular subject or activity or become involved in it  [take something into a new state or situation] cause something to be in a new state or situation  [something will take you into a future period of time] something will last or continue to be effective until that time

take + off  [take something off] remove something or separate it from the place where it was  [take off your clothes or something that you are wearing] undress or remove your clothes or something that you are wearing  [take something off someone] use force or your authority to get something from someone  [an aeroplane or bird takes off] an aeroplane or bird leaves the ground and starts flying  [something such as a product or activity takes off] something such as a product or activity becomes very successful and popular  go away, often suddenly and unexpectedly

take + off (cont’d)  [take someone off to a particular place or institution] make someone go there with you  [take someone off a task or list] stop someone doing that task or being on that list  [take time off] spend time doing something different from your normal routine or job  [take off something such as an amount of money or a mark] subtract it from a total  [British] [take someone off] imitate their appearance or behaviour, usually in order to make other people laugh  [someone in authority takes you off a particular type of food, medical treatment, or punishment] someone in authority stops a particular type of food, medical treatment, or punishment from being given to you  [a bus or train, or plane service is taken off] a bus, train, or plane service stops operating and is no longer available for people to use  [a play is taken off at a particular theatre] a play’s performances there end

take + on  [take on a job, task, or responsibility] accept a job, task or responsibility and try to do what is required  [something takes on a new quality or appearance] something develops that quality or appearance  [someone takes you on at a place of place] someone employs you  [take on a rival or opponent, especially one who is bigger or more powerful than you] fight or compete against them [=tackle]  [a bus, train, ship, or plane takes on passengers, goods, or fuel] a bus, train, ship, or plane stops in order to allow the passengers to get on or the goods or fuel to be loaded  [take something on yourself] decide to do something without asking anyone for permission or approval  [say ‘Don’t take on’ to someone] someone should not get angry or upset about a situation, or make a fuss about it

take + out  [take something out] remove something from a container or from the place where it was  [take something out] remove something fro ever from the place where it was, for example because it is unwanted or damaged  [take someone out, for example to a restaurant or a film] go to a restaurant or a film with you and you pay for everything  [take someone out] kill someone  [take something out] destroy something or damage it so that it can no longer be used [=wipe out]  [take out something such as a licence, an insurance policy, or a bank loan] arrange to get a licence, an insurance policy or a bank loan from a court of law, an insurance company, or a bank  [take out money from a bank or a bank account] obtain money by writing a cheque or filling in a form [=withdraw]  [take out a book from a library] borrow a book for a time  [take time out] spend time doing something different from what you are supposed to be doing, or from what you normally do [=take off]

take + out + of  [something takes a lot out of you] something makes you feel exhausted  [something takes you out of yourself] something makes you stop thinking about your problems or the situation you are in

take + out + on  [take something out on someone] behave in an unpleasant way towards someone because you feel angry or upset, even though it is not their fault

take + over  [take over a company or business] gain control of a company or business by buying it or buying a majority of its shares [=buy out]  [people take over a country, region, or city] people gain control of a country, region, or city, usually with the help of an army  [people who are protesting about something take over a factory or other building] people enter a factory or other building and stay there, preventing it from being used normally, as part of their protest [=occupy]  [take over a house, flat, or room] start living in a house, flat or room or using it  [take over a job or a responsibility] start doing a job or being responsible for it after someone else has finished  [take trouble, care, or time over a place or person] carry something or someone or lead them to that place or person  [a feeling, thought, or activity takes you over] a feeling, thought, or activity affects you so strongly or takes so much of your time that you find it difficult to do anything else  [one thing takes over from another] one thing becomes more important, successful, or powerful than the other thing, and eventually replaces it

take + through  [take someone through a procedure or task] discuss a procedure or task with someone, so that they know what to do

take + to  [take to someone or something] begin to like someone or something  [take to doing something] begin to do something as a regular habit  [take to a place] go to a place, usually as a result of a difficult or dangerous situation

take + up  [take someone or something up] go with someone or something, or make them go with you, to a higher level, position, or place  [something takes up a particular amount of time, space, or effort] something uses a particular amount of time, space, or effort [=occupy]  [take up an activity or job] start doing it [=go in for]  [take up a point, idea, or issue that you think is important] draw attention to a point, idea or issue that you think is important and cause it to be discussed or dealt with [=pick up]  [take up an offer, challenge, or opportunity] accept an offer, challenge, or opportunity  [take up a particular attitude, belief, or way of doing something] start to have a particular attitude, belief, or way of doing something [=adopt]

take + up (cont’d)  [take up an activity that was interrupted] continue doing an activity that was interrupted from the point where it had stopped  [take up a song, or chant that other people are singing or shouting] start singing or shouting with other people  [take up an object] begin to hold an object or carry it  [take up a particular position] mote to a particular position, because you have been told to or because it is the best position for what you want to do  [something that is fixed to a surface is taken up] something is removed from that surface [=pull up]  [take up something such as a dress or a pair of trousers] shorten a dress or a pair of trousers by folding up the bottom edge and stitching it in place  [someone takes you up when you are starting a career] someone helps, supports, and encourages you to succeed  [take up moisture, gas, or other substance] absorb it  [take up a collection of money] collect a collection of money from people

take + up + on  [take someone up on an offer they have made] accept someone’s offer  [take someone up on something they have said or done] ask someone to explain or justify what they have said or done, because you think that they are wrong

take + up + with  [take up with someone] begin to be friendly with someone and spend a lot of time with them  [be taken up with something] something keeps you busy or fully occupied