b) Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase take one’s life—(also: take one’s own life) commit suicide: A second Czechoslovak has tried to take his life as a political protest by setting fire to himself. take one’s measures • take someone’s measure take one’s measures—take certain steps in regard to a given situation, problem, etc.: After five minutes’ troubled reflec- tion, Klimper took his measures . With unusual difficulty he procured a private interview. take someone’s measure—1. determine the different dimen- sions of a person’s body for clothes, etc.: The tailor took my measure . Reichmann told him it must be made by the morn- ing. 2. form an opinion of a person’s character, abilities, etc.: I have encountered a good many of these gentlemen in actual service, and have taken their measure . take one’s medicine • take one’s own medicine take one’s medicine—submit to smth. unpleasant; accept the punishment which one deserves: You go back and take your medicine like a man. take one’s own medicine—(also: take a dose of one’s own med- icine) receive treatment of the same disagreeable kind as one has given smb. else: Having the polygraph policy mandated by a Congress that doesn’t have the backbone to “take their own medicine ” is not a good way to convince people. take one’s orders • take orders take one’s orders—receive directions or commands: The civil patrol serves under the command of the chief commissioner, who takes his orders from the army command. take orders—1. = take one’s orders: Jules had to take orders from him pretending to go along with him in his ridiculous schemes. 2. (also: take holy orders) become a priest in the Angli- can Church: I had scarcely taken orders a year before I began to think seriously of matrimony. take one’s stand • take the stand take one’s stand—take one’s place or position: The players, except one, take their stand at one side, and one stands at the other side in front of them. take the stand —1. (U.S. legal) come into the witness box to give testimony: The judge next asked the defendant to take the stand . 2. take one’s position on an elevated platform (as a speaker, etc.): So many people roll their eyes when they hear a girl singer is about to take the stand . take rank of someone • take rank with someone take rank of someone—be of superior rank or status to a per- son: The first wife, however, takes rank of all the others, and is considered mistress of the house. take rank with someone—be of the same rank or status as smb.: Far better is it to dare mighty things, than to take rank with those poor timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase pull rank with someone—(also: pull rank on someone) use one’s superior rank to gain an advantage: “May I remind you that I am your superior?” Darcy glared at his cousin. He never pulled rank with him. take service • take the service take service —(dated) 1. become employed: Poor boys, of good families, will often take service as apprentices. 2. join a fighting force: Recollect, that, whatever general you take serv - ice under, you will follow him. take the service—conduct divine worship: I’m not going to church this evening. The Vicar is taking the service and I can’t endure his sermons. take shape • take the shape take shape —1. become definite in form or outline: In a short time the bag began to distend and then the balloon took shape and form. 2. reach the necessary standard; become complete: As Robin’s plan took shape we could appreciate the brilliance of its simplicity. take the shape—take the form of a particular thing: They [birds] are also called Boat-tails because their tail-feathers are formed so as to take the shape of a canoe. take someone at his word • take someone’s word take someone at his word—assume that smb. means what he says and act accordingly, even if he may not have quite meant it: I was joking, but he took me at my word and arrived with a bag of sliced pork and herbs. take someone’s word—(also: take someone’s word for it) believe a person even though there is no proof that what he says is true: I don’t expect any of you to take my word blindly. Read the suggested articles and books. take someone away • take someone off take someone away—take smb. to another place; lead a per- son away: The prisoner was taken away by an armed guard. take someone off—1. = take someone away: Before long the young prisoner was taken off for questioning. 2. rescue a per- son from a sinking ship: Before the ship sank, all the passengers were safely taken off . 3. (Sport) remove a player: The captain decided to take Snow off and try a slower bowler. take someone into care • take someone into one’s care take someone into care—take a child lacking proper super- vision, etc. to an institution run by the government or local council: The little boy’s parents couldn’t look after him, so he has been taken into care . take someone into one’s care—assume the care of a person; attend to smb.’s needs: I consider it a privilege to take your child into my care and I’m looking forward to assisting you in helping your baby become a well adjusted toddler. take stock in something • take stock of something take stock in something —have faith in smth.; attach impor- tance to smth.: She always tends to exaggerate, so if I were you, I wouldn’t take any stock in what she says. take stock of something —evaluate smth.; consider smth. care- fully: In starting out to look for work, a man should take stock of his particular training and qualifications. take the heat for something • take the heat off something take the heat for something—(coll.) take the blame for smth.; endure severe criticism: We took the heat for oversleeping and missing our flight when we landed. take the heat off something—(also: take the heat out of some- thing ) 1. stop people criticizing or attacking smth.: The con- ference was designed to take the heat off his failure to make good on economic promises that got him elected. 2. lessen the bitterness or hostility of an argument, etc.: Ishiba tried to take some heat out of his comments, maintaining there was no evi- dence of an imminent North Korean attack. take the road • take to the road take the road—follow a particular route: We stayed high and took the road that followed the contours of the moun- tainside. take to the road—1. set out; get on the way: I got back in the van, finished my ice cream and then took to the road . 2. = take the road: Jonathan Butts in a buggy, took to the road – 315 – take the road