4 PHRASAL VERB If you take something in , you pay attention to it and understand it when you hear it or read it. □ [V n P ] Lesley explains possible treatments but you can tell she's not taking it in. □ [V P n] Gazing up into his eyes, she seemed to take in all he said.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you take something in , you see all of it at the same time or with just one look. □ [V P n] The eyes behind the lenses were dark and quick-moving, taking in everything at a glance. [Also V n P ]
6 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you take in something such as a film or a museum, you go to see it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] I was wondering if you might want to take in a movie with me this evening. [Also V n P ]
7 PHRASAL VERB If people, animals, or plants take in air, drink, or food, they allow it to enter their body, usually by breathing or swallowing. □ [V P n] They will certainly need to take in plenty of liquid. [Also V n P ]
8 PHRASAL VERB If you take in a dress, jacket, or other item of clothing, you make it smaller and tighter. □ [V P n] She had taken in the grey dress so that it hugged her thin body. [Also V n P ]
9 PHRASAL VERB If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services. [mainly AM , BUSINESS ] □ [V P amount] They plan to take in $1.6 billion. in BRIT, usually use take
▸ take off
1 PHRASAL VERB When an aeroplane takes off , it leaves the ground and starts flying. □ [V P ] We eventually took off at 11 o'clock and arrived in Venice at 1.30.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something such as a product, an activity, or someone's career takes off , it suddenly becomes very successful. □ [V P ] In 1944, he met Edith Piaf, and his career took off.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you take off or take yourself off , you go away, often suddenly and unexpectedly. □ [V P ] He took off at once and headed back to the motel. □ [V pron-refl P ] He took himself off to Mexico.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you take a garment off , you remove it. □ [V n P ] He wouldn't take his hat off. □ [V P n] She took off her spectacles.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you take time off , you obtain permission not to go to work for a short period of time. □ [V n P ] Mitchel's schedule had not permitted him to take time off. □ [V n P n] She took two days off work.
6 PHRASAL VERB If you take someone off , you make them go with you to a particular place, especially when they do not want to go there. □ [V n P prep/adv] The police stopped her and took her off to a police station.
7 PHRASAL VERB If you take someone off , you imitate them and the things that they do and say, in such a way that you make other people laugh. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] Mike can take off his father to perfection. [Also V n P ]
8 → see also takeoff
▸ take on
1 PHRASAL VERB If you take on a job or responsibility, especially a difficult one, you accept it. □ [V P n] No other organisation was able or willing to take on the job. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality. □ [V P n] Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If a vehicle such as a bus or ship takes on passengers, goods, or fuel, it stops in order to allow them to get on or to be loaded on. □ [V P n] This is a brief stop to take on passengers and water. [Also V n P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you take someone on , you employ them to do a job. □ [V n P ] He's spoken to a publishing firm. They're going to take him on. □ [V P n] The party has been taking on staff, including temporary organisers.
5 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you take someone on , you fight them or compete against them, especially when they are bigger or more powerful than you are. □ [V P n] Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were so high. □ [V n P ] I knew I couldn't take him on.
6 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you take something on or upon yourself , you decide to do it without asking anyone for permission or approval. □ [V n P pron-refl] Knox had taken it on himself to choose the menu. □ [V P pron-refl] He took upon himself the responsibility for protecting her. □ [V n P pron-refl] The President absolved his officers and took the blame upon himself.
▸ take out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you take something out , you remove it permanently from its place. □ [V n P ] I got an abscess so he took the tooth out. □ [V P n] When you edit the recording you can take out the giggles.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you take out something such as a loan, a licence, or an insurance policy, you obtain it by fulfilling the conditions and paying the money that is necessary. □ [V P n] They find a house, agree a price, and take out a mortgage through their building society. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you take someone out , they go somewhere such as a restaurant or theatre with you after you have invited them, and usually you pay for them. □ [V n P ] Jessica's grandparents took her out for the day. □ [V n P + to ] Reichel took me out to lunch. □ [V P n] …a father taking out his daughter for a celebratory dinner.