▸ take out on PHRASAL VERB If you take something out on someone, you behave in an unpleasant way towards them because you feel angry or upset, even though this is not their fault. □ [V n P P n] Jane's always annoying her and she takes it out on me sometimes.
▸ take over
1 PHRASAL VERB If you take over a company, you get control of it, for example by buying its shares. [BUSINESS ] □ [V P n] …their plan to take over the company's main electric vehicles division. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone takes over a country or building, they get control of it by force, for example with the help of the army. □ [V P n] They organised a coup and once more took over the country. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you take over a job or role or if you take over , you become responsible for the job after someone else has stopped doing it. □ [V P n] His widow has taken over the running of his empire, including six London theatres. □ [V P + from ] He took over from his uncle as governing mayor. □ [V P + as ] She took over as chief executive of the trust.
4 PHRASAL VERB If one thing takes over from something else, it becomes more important, successful, or powerful than the other thing, and eventually replaces it. □ [V P + from ] Cars gradually took over from horses. □ [V P ] When the final vote came, rationality took over.
5 → see also takeover
▸ take to
1 PHRASAL VERB If you take to someone or something, you like them, especially after knowing them or thinking about them for only a short time. □ [V P n] Did the children take to him?
2 PHRASAL VERB If you take to doing something, you begin to do it as a regular habit. □ [V P v-ing] They had taken to wandering through the streets arm-in-arm.
▸ take up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you take up an activity or a subject, you become interested in it and spend time doing it, either as a hobby or as a career. □ [V P n] He did not particularly want to take up a competitive sport. □ [V n P ] Angela used to be a model and has decided to take it up again.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you take up a question, problem, or cause, you act on it or discuss how you are going to act on it. □ [V P n] Scientists present evidence of an environmental threat and a pressure group will take up the issue. □ [V P n + with ] Dr Mahathir intends to take up the proposal with the prime minister. □ [V n P + with ] If the bank is unhelpful, take it up with the Ombudsman. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you take up a job, you begin to work at it. □ [V P n] He will take up his post as the head of the civil courts at the end of next month. [Also V n P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you take up an offer or a challenge, you accept it. □ [V P n] Increasingly, more farmers are taking up the challenge of growing asparagus. [Also V n P ]
5 PHRASAL VERB If something takes up a particular amount of time, space, or effort, it uses that amount. □ [V P n] I know how busy you must be and naturally I wouldn't want to take up too much of your time. □ [be V -ed P + with ] A good deal of my time is taken up with reading critical essays and reviews. □ [V P n + with ] The aim was not to take up valuable time with the usual boring pictures.
6 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you take up a particular position, you get into a particular place in relation to something else. □ [V P n] He had taken up a position in the centre of the room. [Also V n P ]
7 PHRASAL VERB If you take up something such as a task or a story, you begin doing it after it has been interrupted or after someone else has begun it. □ [V P n] Gerry's partner Jo takes up the story. □ [V P wh] 'No, no, no,' says Damon, taking up where Dave left off. [Also V n P ]
8 → see also take-up
▸ take up on PHRASAL VERB If you take someone up on their offer or invitation, you accept it. □ [V n P P n] Since she'd offered to babysit, I took her up on it.
▸ take upon → see take on 6
▸ take up with PHRASAL VERB If you are taken up with something, it keeps you busy or fully occupied. □ [be V -ed P ] His mind was wholly taken up with the question.
take|away /te I kəwe I / (takeaways )
1 N‑COUNT A takeaway is a shop or restaurant which sells hot cooked food that you eat somewhere else. [BRIT ] in AM, use takeout 2 N‑COUNT A takeaway is hot cooked food that you buy from a shop or restaurant and eat somewhere else. [BRIT ] □ …a Chinese takeaway. in AM, use takeout
ta ke-home pa y N‑UNCOUNT Your take-home pay is the amount of your wages or salary that is left after income tax and other payments have been subtracted. [BUSINESS ] □ He was earning £215 a week before tax: take-home pay, £170.
tak|en /te I kən/
1 Taken is the past participle of take .
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are taken with something or someone, you are very interested in them or attracted to them. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ with ] She seems very taken with the idea.
take|off /te I kɒf, [AM ] -ɔːf/ (takeoffs ) also take-off
1 N‑VAR Takeoff is the beginning of a flight, when an aircraft leaves the ground.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A takeoff of someone is a humorous imitation of the way in which they behave. □ [+ of ] The programme was worth watching for an inspired takeoff of the Collins sisters.
take|out /te I koʊt/ (takeouts )