Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"
Автор книги: Adam Makkai
Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Словари
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Текущая страница: 53 (всего у книги 61 страниц)
[study] See: BROWN STUDY.
[stuff] See: KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND(2).
[stuff and nonsense]{n.} Foolish or empty writing or talk; nonsense. •/Fred told a long story about his adventures in Africa, but it was all stuff and nonsense./ Often used as an interjection. •/When Jane said she was too sick to go to school, her mother answered, «Stuff and nonsense! I know there’s a test today.»/
[stuff the ballot box]{v. phr.} To give more votes to a candidate in an election than there are people who actually voted for him. •/It is a crime to stuff the ballot box./ – [ballot-stuffing]{adj. phr.}
[stuffed shirt]{n. phr.} A pretentious bore; a pompous, empty person. •/I think that Howard is a terrible stuffed shirt with no sense of humor./
[stuffed up]{adj. phr.} Impeded; blocked. •/Our kitchen sink is all stuffed up so I have to call the plumber./
[stumble across]{v. phr.} To encounter a person or thing, mostly by accident. •/I gave up looking for my old hat when I accidentally stumbled across it in a dark corner of the closet./
[stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP, UP A STUMP.
[style] See: CRAMP ONE’S STYLE, HIGH STYLE.
[subject to]{adj. phr.} 1. Under the government or control of; in the power of. •/The English colonies in America were subject to the English king./ •/The principal and the teachers of a school are subject to the school board./ 2. Likely to get or have; liable. •/John is in rather poor health and is subject to colds./ •/The western plains are subject to tornadoes./ 3. Depending on some change, happening, or need. •/The company and the union agreed that the workers' wages should be subject to changes in the cost of living./ •/Agreements made by the President with other countries are subject to the approval of the Senate./
[substance] See: IN SUBSTANCE.
[succeed] See: HOWLING SUCCESS, NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS.
[such and such]{pronoun} Something whose name is not mentioned because it does not need to be mentioned. •/George’s argument tries to prove such and such to be true, but it does not convince me./
[such-and-such]{adj. phr.} Being one whose name has been forgotten or whose name does not need to be mentioned. •/She told me to go to such-and-such a street and turn right./ •/Suppose, now, that we have such-and-such a group coming to the school, and we don’t have enough chairs. What do we do then?/
[such as]{conj.} 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind like. •/The explorer took only such men and things as he really needed into the jungle with him./ •/They felt such heat in the jungle as they had never felt before./ •/Many different pies were in the bakery such as apple, cherry, and blueberry pies./ 2. Of the average or ordinary kind; poor; humble. •/Such as the food was, there was plenty of it./ •/The room is not very nice, but such as it is, you may stay there for the night./
[such as it is] Just as it appears or is presented, not being any better or worse than most others of its kind; being average or mediocre. •/This pie, such as it is, is the best I can make./ •/Jane told her grandmother her grades, such as they were./
[such that]{conj.} Of a kind or amount that; so great or so little that; enough that. •/There was such a big line at me movie that we had to wait before we could get in./ •/Jimmy made such noise that his sister told him to be quiet./ •/Mother’s answer was such that she didn’t say yes and she didn’t say no./
[sucker list]{n.}, {slang} A list of easily-fooled people, especially people who are easily persuaded to buy things or give money. •/The crook got hold of a sucker list and started out to sell his worthless stock./ •/Mr. Smith gets so many advertisements in his mail that he says he is on every sucker list in the country./
[suck in]{v.} 1. {informal} To pull in by taking a deep breath and tightening the muscles; flatten. •/«Suck in those stomachs,» the gym teacher said./ 2. {slang} To make a fool of; cheat. •/The uneducated farmer was sucked in by a clever crook./
[sugar daddy]{n.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {avoidable} An older, well-to-do man, who gives money and gifts to a younger woman or girls usually in exchange for sexual favors. •/Betty Morgan got a mink coat from her sugar daddy./
[suit] See: BIRTHDAY SUIT, FOLLOW SUIT.
[suit to a T] See: TO A T.
[suit up]{v. phr.} To don a uniform or sports outfit. •/The veterans like to suit up for the Fourth of July parade./
[suit yourself]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do what one likes or prefers. •/«I don’t care where you want to sleep,» he said. «Suit yourself!»/
[sum total]{n.} The final amount; everything taken together; total. •/The sum total of expenses for the trip was $450./ •/Ten years was the sum total of John’s education./
[sum up]{v.} To put something into a few words; shorten into a brief summary; summarize. •/The teacher summed up the lesson in three rules./ •/The mailman’s job, in all kinds of weather, is summed up in the phrase «Deliver the mail.»/
[sun] See: UNDER THE SUN.
[sunbelt]{n.}, {informal} A portion of the southern United States where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. •/The Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff’s rheumatism./
[Sunday] See: MONTH OF SUNDAYS.
[Sunday best] or [Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[sunny-side up]{adj.} Fried on one side only. •/Barbara likes her eggs sunny-side up./
[supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER or POTLUCK SUPPER.
[supply] See: IN SHORT SUPPLY.
[sure] See: FOR SURE, MAKE SURE, TO BE SURE.
[sure enough]{adv.} As expected. •/Charles was afraid he had done badly on the test, and sure enough, his grade was failing./ •/The children saw a familiar shape coming up the street and hoped it was their lost dog. When it came near, sure enough, it was Spot./ Compare: SURE THING(2).
[sure-enough]{adj.} Real; genuine. •/Rick found a sure-enough nickel./ •/Martha’s uncle gave her a sure-enough pearl on a little gold chain./ •/Jane’s uncle is a sure-enough cowboy./
[surefire]{adj.} Without fail; effective; bringing actual results. •/During a campaign the only surefire way to get the sympathy of the voters is to mingle with them in person./
[sure thing] 1. {n.}, {informal} Something sure to happen; something about which there is no doubt. •/It’s no fun betting on a sure thing./ 2. {adv.} Of course; certainly •/Sure thing, I’ll be glad to do it for you./ Compare: FOR SURE(2), SURE ENOUGH.
[surface] See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE.
[surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[survival of the fittest]{n. phr.} The staying alive or in action of the best prepared; often: idea that those living things best able to adjust to life survive and those unable to adjust die out. •/Life in the old West was often a case of survival of the fittest./ •/With changes in the world’s climate, dinosaurs died but many smaller animals lived on. It was survival of the fittest./ •/On the 50-mile hike it was survival of the fittest; only 12 out of 25 Scouts finished./
[suspicion] See: ABOVE SUSPICION.
[swallow] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY.
[swallow hook, line, and sinker] See: HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[swallow one’s pride]{v. phr.} To bring your pride under control; humble yourself. •/After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride and shook hands with the winner./ Compare: EAT ONE’S WORDS,
[swallow one’s words] 1. To speak unclearly; fail to put enough breath into your words. •/Phyllis was hard to understand because she swallowed her words./ 2. See: EAT ONE’S WORDS.
[swallow up]{v. phr.} To do away with; absorb; engulf. •/My expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary./
[swan song]{n. phr.}, {literary} A farewell or last appearance. •/The famous soprano gave her swan song in La Traviata before she retired./
[SWAT team]{n.}, {informal} Police unit trained for especially hazardous or sensitive law-enforcement assignments; short for Special Weapons and Tactics. •/Joe made the SWAT team of the NYPD due to his athletic skills./
[swathe] See: CUT A SWATHE.
[swear by]{v.} 1. To use as the support or authority that what you are saying is truthful; take an oath upon. •/A witness swears by the Bible that he will tell the truth./ •/In ancient Greece a doctor swore by Apollo, the god of healing, that he would be a good doctor./ •/John swore by his honor he would return the bike./ 2. To have complete confidence in; be sure of; trust completely. •/When John has to go somewhere fast, he swears by his bike to get there./ •/We can be sure that Fred will come on time, since his friend Tom swears by him./
[swear in] or [swear into]{v.} To have a person swear or promise to do his duty as a member or an officer of an organization, government department, or similar group. – «Swear into» is used when the name of the group is given. •/Mary and Ann will be sworn into the club tonight./ •/Fred was sworn in as class president./ •/Many new men were sworn into the army last month./ •/At the inauguration, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swore in the new President./
[swear off]{v.}, {informal} To give up something you like or you have got in the habit of using by making a promise. •/Mary swore off candy until she lost ten pounds./ •/John has sworn off dessert for Lent./
[swear out]{v.} To get (a written order to do something) by swearing that a person has broken the law. •/The policeman swore out a warrant for the suspect’s arrest./ •/The detectives swore out a search warrant./
[sweat] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE’S BROW.
[sweat blood]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be very much worried. •/The engine of the airplane stopped, and the pilot sweated blood as he glided to a safe landing./ 2. To work very hard. •/Jim sweated blood to finish his composition on time./
[sweat out]{v.}, {informal} To wait anxiously; worry while waiting. •/Karl was sweating out the results of the college exams./ •/The search plane signaled that help was on the way. The men in the lifeboat just had to sweat it out./
[Sweeney] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES or TELL IT TO SWEENEY.
[sweep] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.
[sweep off one’s feet]{v. phr.} To make (someone) have feelings (as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the feelings. •/The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet when he said so many things to her at the dance./ •/Joan was swept off her feet when the football captain started flirting with her./ •/Mary is swept off her feet whenever she hears a band start playing./ •/John was swept off his feet when he won the contest./ Compare: BOWL OVER (2), CARRY AWAY.
[sweep out of]{v. phr.} To leave in an impressive, majestic manner. •/Offended by Tim’s remark, Mary swept out of the room with her head high in the air./
[sweep the city] or [country] or [nation] or [world]{v. phr.} To gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc. •/Pavarotti’s unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an unprecedented manner./
[sweep under the rug]{v. phr.} To hide or dismiss casually (something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). •/In many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug./
[sweet] See: SHORT AND SWEET.
[sweetie pie]{n.}, {informal} A person who is loved; darling; sweetheart. •/Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her sweetie pie./ •/Nancy is Bill’s sweetie pie./
[sweet on]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In love with; very fond of. •/John is sweet on Alice./
[sweet talk] 1. {n.}, {informal} Too much praise; flattery. •/Sometimes a girl’s better judgment is overcome by sweet talk./ 2. {v.}, {informal} To get what you want by great praise; flatter. •/Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything./
[sweet tooth]{n. phr.} A great weakness or predilection for sweets. •/Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything else but cake./
[swelled head]{n.}, {informal} A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. •/When John won the race, he got a swelled head./ •/Pretty girls shouldn’t get a swelled head about it./ – [swell-headed]{adj. phr.} •/After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD.
[swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.
[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream]{v. phr.} To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. •/The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./
[swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE’S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.
[swing] See: IN FULL SWING.
[swing one’s weight]{v. phr.} To use your personal power to get something done •/The President swings his weight to get laws passed./ •/Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./
[switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.
[switched on]{adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. •/I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. •/How come you’re talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/
[swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.
[sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING.
[sworn enemies]{n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a long-standing dislike for each other. •/The Israelis and the Arabs used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace accord./
[syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.
T
[T] See: TO A T.
[tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.
[table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES, WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A TACK.
[tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE
[tack on]{v. phr.} To append; add. •/We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us./
[tag end] or [tail end]{n.}, {informal} The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. •/John was at the tail end of his class./ •/Mary’s part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ •/Bill waited at the crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./
[tail] See: COW’S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.
[tail between one’s legs]{n. phr.} State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. •/The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ •/The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.)
[tail end] See: TAG END.
[taillight]{n.} The rear red light of a car. •/My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight./
[tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.
[tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.
[tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. •/He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./
[take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
[take aback] See: TAKEN BACK.
[take a back seat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. •/During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ •/She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[take a bath]{v. phr.}, {informal} To come to financial ruin. •/Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./
[take a bow]{v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. •/The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow./ •/The basketball team should take a bow for fine work this season./
[take a break]{v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the course of one’s work. •/«You’ve worked hard. It’s time to take a break,» the boss said./
[take a chance]{v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. •/We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./
[take a crack at]{v. phr.} To try doing something. •/It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it./
[take a dig at]{v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. •/If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one./
[take a dim view of]{v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. •/Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam./ •/Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. •/John’s father took a dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ •/The teacher took a dim view of the class’s behavior./
[take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a drop]{v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. •/Aunt Liz doesn’t really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./ 2. To lose value; decrease in price. •/Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis./
[take advantage of]{v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. •/The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ •/Jean took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. •/He took advantage of his friend’s kindness./ •/The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON.
[take after]{v.} To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). •/He takes after his father in mathematical ability./ •/She takes after her father’s side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY.
[take a fancy to]{v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. •/Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture./
[take a flop]{v. phr.} To fall heavily. •/I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk./
[take aim]{v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. •/When the captain orders «Take aim,» raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ •/Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./
[take a hand in]{v. phr.} To assist in the direction of; participate. •/The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees./
[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.
[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.
[take down a notch] or [take down a peg]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. •/The team was feeling proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a bad defeat./
[take effect]{v. phr.} 1. To have an unexpected or intended result; cause a change. •/It was nearly an hour before the sleeping pill took effect./ 2. To become lawfully right, or operative. •/The new tax law will not take effect until January./
[take exception to]{v. phr.} To speak against; find fault with; be displeased or angered by; criticize. •/There was nothing in the speech that you could take exception to./ •/Did she take exception to my remarks about her cooking./
[take five]{v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work or theatrical rehearsal. •/«All right, everyone,» the director cried. «Let’s take five.»/
[take for]{v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. •/Do you take me for a fool?/ •/At first sight you would take him for a football player, not a poet./
[take for a ride]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a car intending to murder. •/The gang leader decided that the informer must be taken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. •/The girls told Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride./ Compare: STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain. •/His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating her./
[take for granted]{v. phr.} 1. To suppose or understand to be true. •/Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his wife./ •/A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework./ Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything. •/George took for granted all that his parents did for him./ •/No girl likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better./
[take French leave]{v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. •/The party was so boring that we decided to take French leave./ •/While the Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the silver and took French leave./ See: SLIP AWAY.
[take heart]{v. phr.} To be encouraged; feel braver and want to try. •/The men took heart from their leader’s words and went on to win the battle./ •/When we are in trouble we can take heart from the fact that things often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE HEART.
[take heed]{v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listen carefully; notice. •/Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./
[take hold of]{v. phr.} To grasp. •/The old man tried to keep himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take hold of./
[take ill] or [take sick]{v.} To become sick. •/Father took sick just before his birthday./ – Used in the passive with the same meaning. •/The man was taken ill on the train./
[take in]{v.} 1. To include. •/The country’s boundaries were changed to fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ •/The class of mammals takes in nearly all warm-blooded animals except the birds./ 2. To go and see; visit. •/The students decided to take in a movie while they were in town./ •/We planned to take in Niagara Palls and Yellowstone Park on our trip./ 3. To make smaller. •/This waistband is too big; it must be taken in about an inch./ •/They had to take in some sail to keep the ship from turning over in the storm./ 4. To grasp with the mind; understand. •/He didn’t take in what he read because his mind was on something else./ •/He took in the situation at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. •/The teacher was taken in by the boy’s innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. To accept without question; believe. •/The magician did many tricks, and the children took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. •/The senior class held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars./ 6b. Let come in; admit. •/The farmer took in the lost travelers for the night./ •/When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders./ 7. To see or hear with interest; pay close attention to, •/When Bill told about his adventures, the other boys took it all in./
[take in stride]{v. phr.} To meet happenings without too much surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. •/He learned to take disappointments in stride./
[take in tow]{v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. •/Brian and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the circus./
