[take five]{v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work ortheatrical rehearsal. •/"All right, everyone," the director cried. "Let’stake five."/

[take for]{v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. •/Do you take me for afool?/ •/At first sight you would take him for a football player, not apoet./

[take for a ride]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a carintending to murder. •/The gang leader decided that the informer must betaken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. •/The girls told Linda thata movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thoughtthey were taking her for a ride./ Compare: STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfairadvantage of; fool for your own gain. •/His girlfriend really took him for aride 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./ •/Ateacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework./Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become used to (something) withoutnoticing especially or saying anything. •/George took for granted all thathis parents did for him./ •/No girl likes to have her boyfriend take herfor granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better./

[take French leave]{v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. •/The partywas so boring that we decided to take French leave./ •/While the Smithfamily was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the silver and took Frenchleave./ 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 thebattle./ •/When we are in trouble we can take heart from the fact thatthings often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE HEART.

[take heed]{v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listencarefully; notice. •/Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./

[take hold of]{v. phr.} To grasp. •/The old man tried to keephimself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take holdof./

[take ill] or [take sick] {v.} To become sick. •/Father took sickjust 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 changedto fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ •/The class of mammals takesin 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 aninch./ •/They had to take in some sail to keep the ship from turning overin the storm./ 4. To grasp with the mind; understand. •/He didn’t take inwhat he read because his mind was on something else./ •/He took in thesituation at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. •/The teacher wastaken in by the boy’s innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. Toaccept without question; believe. •/The magician did many tricks, and thechildren took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. •/The senior class held adance 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 herhusband 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 boystook it all in./

[take in stride]{v. phr.} To meet happenings without too muchsurprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. •/He learned to takedisappointments in stride./

[take in tow]{v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. •/Brian andKate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the circus./

[take into account]{v. phr.} To remember and understand while judgingsomeone or something; consider. •/How much time will we need to get to thelake? You have to take the bad road into account./ •/His acting in the playwas remarkable, taking into account his youth and inexperience./ Syn.: RECKONWITH. Contrast: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT.

[take issue with]{v. phr.} To be openly against; speak against;disagree with. •/He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take issuewith him on the matter./

[take it]{v. phr.} 1. To get an idea or impression; understand fromwhat is said or done. — Usually used with "I". •/I take it from your silencethat you don’t want to go./ 2. {informal} To bear trouble, hard work,criticism; not give up or weaken. •/Henry could criticize and tease otherboys, but he couldn’t take it himself./ •/Bob lost his job and his girl inthe same week, and we all admired the way he took it./

[take it all in]{v. phr.} To absorb completely; listen attentively.•/Bill’s piano music filled the room and we took it all in withadmiration./

[take it away]{v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression}You’re on; it’s your turn; you’re next. •/And here comes that wonderfulcomedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away. Bob."/

[take it easy]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. or [go easy] or [takethings easy] To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. — Often used with"on". •/Take it easy. The roads are icy./ •/"Go easy," said Billy to theother boys carrying the table down the stairs./ •/"Take it easy on John anddon’t scold him too much," said Mrs. Jones to Mr. Jones./ •/Go easy on thecake. There isn’t much left./ 2. or [take things easy] To avoid hard workor worry; have an easy time; live in comfort. •/The doctor said that Bobwould have to take things easy for awhile after he had his tonsils out./•/Barbara likes to take it easy./ •/Grandfather will retire from his jobnext year and take things easy./ •/Mr. Wilson has just made a lot of moneyand can take things easy now./

[take it from the top]{v. phr.}, {informal}{Musical andtheatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. •/The conductorsaid, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and watch my baton."/

[take it into one’s head] or {informal} [take a notion] {v.phr.} To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. •/The boy suddenlytook it into his head to leave school and get a job./ •/Grandmother keeps abag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a notion./

[take it on the chin]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beatenor hurt. •/Our football team really took it on the chin today. They are allbumps and bruises./ •/Mother and I took it on the chin in the card game./2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens to you; accepttrouble or defeat calmly. •/A good football player can take it on the chinwhen his team loses./

[take it or leave it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To accept somethingwithout change or refuse it; decide yes or no. — Often used like a command.•/He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or leave it./

[take it out on]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkindto (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings by beingmean to. — Often used with the name of the feeling instead of "it." •/Theteacher was angry and took it out on the class./ •/Bob was angry becauseFather would not let him use the car, and he took it out on his littlebrother./