Take someone aback
- shock/surprise someone
The dreadful sight of the accident took me aback.
Take after someone
- resemble, have a similar character or appearance as a parent etc.
She takes after her father in being obstinate.
Take something back
- withdraw a statement/remark/accusation/criticism etc. to demonstrate that it was unjust or incorrect
I'm sorry that I called you an opportunist, and I take it all back.
Take something down
- write something down; record something
The policeman took down the details of the accident and the addresses of the witnesses.
Take someone in
- trick/fool someone
He's a clever talker but don't let him take you in.
Take something in
- fully understand something
- observe/look at something
- (in sewing) make narrower
This book is difficult to take in, especially when you're tired.
I was too busy taking in the beautiful antique furniture to notice who was in the room.
This dress is too big at the waist. It needs taking in a little.
Take in someone
- give accommodation to someone
Mrs Willson is considering taking in students next year.
Take off
- (aircraft) leave the ground
- (informal) leave in a hurry
Did the flight take off on time?
Janet took off for Leeds as soon as term ended.
Take someone off
- (informal) imitate someone for amusement
Bob's speciality at parties is taking politicians off.
Take something off
- remove something
- remove from service
- lose weight by dieting
- take free time from work
Who took the knob off the door?
Some local trains have been taken off, as there was no demand for them.
Take your coat off and sit down.
I took off three pounds last week!
I took a week off in March.
Take someone on
- employ someone
- accept someone as an opponent
Is the supermarket taking on any more assistants.
Will you take me on for a game of chess?
Take something on
- accept something; undertake to do something
I really don't think I can take the work on at the moment. I've got too much to do.
Take on something
- acquire/develop a characteristic
His writing has taken on a very peculiar style in the past year.
Take someone out
- invite and accompany someone to a place of entertainment/recreation
- (US, slang) cheat, harm or kill someone
Chris takes his mother on every weekend, usually for a ride in the country.
I shall take Ben on the way he took on my sister!
Take something out
- (a contract, licence etc.) pay for, obtain for a fixed time
- (dirt, stains etc.) remove
- (in military contexts) eliminate, destroy
You’ll have to take out a radio and TV licence.
I need something that will take out these ink stains.
There are reports of allied aircraft having taken out a significant number of enemy tanks.
Take something out on someone
- make someone else suffer unfairly because one is angry, disappointed about something
I know you're furious about the affair at the office, but you shouldn't take your anger out on your family.
Take something over (from somebody)
- come into control or possession of something
Wilson's taken over the running of the family business from his father.
Take to someone
- form a liking for someone; be attracted to someone
I didn't take to our new editor at first, but now we're good friends.
Take to something
- form a liking for something
- form the habit of something
How has Scott taken to his new school?
If a person once takes to gambling, it's difficult to stop.
Take something up
- (sewing) make something shorter
- occupy space
- discuss/examine something
- accept (an offer etc.)
- absorb a fluid
That skirt's too long - why don't you take it up a bit?
This big bed takes up a lot of room.
That's an issue we ought to take up at the next meeting.
Do you intend to take up the job offer?
Use blotting paper to take up the ink, not your shirt sleeve!
Take up something
- begin to pursue (hobby, interest, sport)
- begin duties/work
- continue (an unfinished narrative)
He has taken up sky-diving at the weekends.
When does the new man take up his post?
She took up the story at the point where the thief had just made his get-away on a motorbike.
Take someone up on sth
- question someone about something
- accept (an offer, challenge etc.)
Linda took the speaker up on a few points that she didn't agree with.
He said he'd buy me a drink, so I took him up on it and ordered a large brandy.
Take up with someone
- become friends with somebody; keep company with somebody
When Derek went to London, he took up with some very strange people in Soho.
Turn someone/something down
- reject or refuse someone/something
We've had to turn down four applicants already, as they didn't have the necessary experience.
Turn in
- (informal) go to bed
It's past midnight. Come on, time to turn in.
Turn someone in
- (informal) hand someone over to the police
The youth was afraid that the supermarket manager would turn him in for stealing cigarettes.
Turn something in
- hand in/submit something
- (informal) abandon something
Susan is a hard¬working student. She turns in two essays a week.
David has a part-time job at a garage but he's having to turn it in because they want to replace him with a full-time mechanic.
Turn someone off (something)
- (informal) cause somebody to lose interest in something
I always enjoyed French in school, but the advanced course in literature turned me right off it.
Turn someone on
- (informal) thrill/delight someone; attract/ excite someone sexually
Rock music really turns me on.
Turn on someone
- attack somebody; criticize someone sharply
He beat the dog so much that it turned on him.
Turn out
- result
- assemble, appear, attend
How did your bread-baking turn out?
The whole village turned out to watch the procession.
Turn someone out (of somewhere)
- make someone leave
Shhh! Stop talking, will you? You'll get us turned out of the library!
Turn something out
- empty something
- switch something off
When you turn out the drawers you’ll probably find the letter.
Don't forget to turn out the lights when you leave.
Turn out something
- produce/manufacture something
The factory turns out bottles. They turn them out at the rate of several thousand per day.
Turn someone/something over
- deliver or hand somebody/something over
- do an amount/volume of business
His family refused to turn him over to the police.
The company turned over more than £350 million last year.
Turn up
- arrive, appear; be found
I waited for twenty minutes, but she didn't turn up.