take breath • take in breath take breath —(also: take a breath) 1. pause to rest after exer- tion (to allow one’s breathing to return to normal): Halfway up the mountain we stopped to take breath . 2. take a break from one’s normal routine (in order to do smth. different): After the frenetic activity of the last four years, we need to take breath and think. We need to reflect on where we want to go and how to get there. take in breath—take air into the lungs; breathe in: When we talk, we don’t stop to take in breath before saying a line, similarly, breath should be controlled when singing. take charge of someone • take someone in charge take charge of someone—assume the care of a person; attend to smb.’s needs: Bee was not well for a while, so I took charge of the babe. take someone in charge—arrest a person; take smb. into cus- tody: The constable called at Mr. Johnson’s house and took him in charge . See also: put someone in charge / put someone on a charge. take five • take the fifth take five—(coll.) take a short rest period: Hey, Bob. I’m tired. Can we take five ? take the fifth1. (U.S. legal) refuse to testify appealing to the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution: Accused criminals can “take the fifth ” without fear of reprisal. 2. (coll.) decline to answer a question: I’ll take the fifth on that one. Ask Fred. See also: give someone five / give someone high five. take ground • take the ground take ground —1. (of ships) run aground: The Flying Scud took ground on a bank of sand and coral about twenty minutes before five. 2. (Military) take up a certain position: Uncer- tainty was at last removed, by his marching towards Arcot, and taking ground before it. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase take earth—(of hunted animals) go into a hiding place: Follow yonder fellow, and see where he takes earth . take the ground —1. = take ground 1: The pilot was about to adjust course when the ship took the ground . 2. assert one’s point of view: Mortillet took the ground that the flints found in Merovingian graves were either “strike-a-lights” or amulets. take heart at something • take something to heart take heart at something—(also: take heart from something) become more confident or encouraged by smth.: “I would have said the same of you,” he added wryly, and took heart at hear- ing Hugh laugh. take something to heart—(also: take something to one’s heart) 1. consider smth. seriously; be affected by smth.: If you take this advice to heart , you will improve your singing a lot. 2. grieve or worry about smth.: She is a very sensitive person, who takes her troubles and disappointments to heart . take it on the nose • take it through the nose take it on the nose—(sl.) meet misfortune or defeat coura- geously (also: take it on the chin): And as the 1980s saw labor take it on the nose when choosing to strike, so the late 1990s have been an era of high-stakes labor wins. take it through the nose—(U.S. Drug users) inhale cocaine: He went into the john, and most of us knew he had to take it through the nose right then. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase pay through the nosepay too much for smth.: It’s a terrible car, and what annoys me is that I paid through the nose for it. take it out of someone • take it out on someone take it out of someone—1. said of smth. that exhausts or weakens a person: He needs rest. The excitement of the past few days has taken it out of him. 2. exact satisfaction from a person (for an offence): Now, you need to find a way to get the money back or your boss will take it out of you. take it out on someone—relieve one’s irritation, frustration, etc. by attacking smb. who is innocent: I know you’re upset at missing the train, but that’s no reason to take it out on the porter. take it up with someone • take up with someone take it up with someone—ask a person to consider the matter in question: Take it up with the insurance company, would you? It’s not worth losing your no-claim bonus. take up with someone—associate or become friendly with a person, especially smb. undesirable: The woman he “took up with ” was likely enough to be married herself and of roughly the same age as his own wife. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase take up for someone— support a person in an argument, etc.: “My mom and sisters always took up for me,” Kyle said. “They were always on my side…” take kindly of someone • take kindly to someone take kindly of someone—(also: take it kindly of someone) accept smth. done by a person as a kindness or favor: I would take it kindly of you to move your car from in front of my house. take kindly to someone—be attracted to or pleased with a person: They don’t take kindly to me and so I suppose I’m not generous enough to take kindly to them. take needles • take the needle take needles —receive treatment by injections: Two of them have type one diabetes, and have to take needles three times a day or more. take the needle—(U.S. Drug users) begin taking drugs by injection: They ended up taking the needle and catching some disease. take note of something • take notes of something take note of something—(also: take notice of something) take smth. seriously; pay close attention to smth.: I had to start taking some note of political developments. take notes of something—write smth. down so that one can refer to it later: Concentrate more on understanding and tak - ing notes of key points. take one’s hour • take one’s time take one’s hour—use an approximate period of time that one may need: Almost everything should be covered in the writing guide, so take your hour or two, and read it. take one’s time—1. not hurry; be slow and careful: Just take your time and tell me clearly what happened. 2. (sarcastic) use more time than is reasonable: The workmen are certainly tak - ing their time over the job. See also: take the time / take time. take one’s life in both hands • take one’s life in one’s hands take one’s life in both hands—(also: take one’s life with both hands) take control of one’s life instead of just letting things happen: Lélio is determined henceforth to take his life in both hands , but the past casts its shadow even now. take one’s life in one’s hands—risk losing one’s life: You take your life in your hands simply crossing the road these days! Note: a) The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase put one’s life in someone’s handsallow smb. to have complete control over what happens to a person: What makes you think I would put my life in your hands ? take breath – 314 –