Phrases & Expressions

To make a special effort to do something correctly or carefully.

• The researchers took care to include people of all ages and backgrounds in their survey.
• Please take care to check your answers before you hand in the exam paper.

To act firmly and quickly in a way that has a clear effect on a situation.

• The central bank took decisive steps to control inflation, raising interest rates three times in one year.
• Unless world leaders take decisive steps now, some effects of climate change may become irreversible.

To do something extreme and sudden in order to deal with a serious problem.

• When sales collapsed during the pandemic, the airline took drastic measures, grounding most of its planes and cutting thousands of jobs.
• The school had to take drastic measures after dozens of students were caught cheating in their exams.

To use armed forces against another country or group.

• The prime minister promised to consult parliament before taking any military action abroad.
• The navy took military action to free the cargo ship after pirates seized it off the coast.

To accept extra duties or a more important role, especially at work.

• As children grow older, they should gradually take on more responsibility for household chores.
• After her promotion, she took on responsibility for training all the new staff in the department.

To borrow money to pay for your studies, which you repay later once you are earning.

• Many graduates who took out student loans are still repaying them well into their thirties.
• I had to take out a student loan to cover my rent, because my part-time job didn't pay enough.

To buy a policy that pays for your medical treatment if you become ill or injured.

• In countries without free public healthcare, most families need to take out health insurance to cover hospital bills.
• I decided to take out private health insurance because the waiting lists at public hospitals were so long.

To make someone remember a time or experience from their past.

• The smell of fresh bread always takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen in Trabzon.
• Hearing that song on the radio really took me back to the summer we spent travelling around Europe.

To understand a remark or action as praise, even if it may not have been meant that way.

• When my colleague said I was too honest, I decided to take it as a compliment.
• If other companies copy your designs, you should take it as a compliment because it shows your work is influential.

To understand words in their most basic, exact meaning rather than the meaning intended.

• When I said I was dying of hunger, my little brother took it literally and got worried.
• Idioms often confuse language learners, who tend to take them too literally.