To believe something about somebody, often wrongly To remove a prisoner from where they stand in court (British).My brother would easily take you down in a fight! To hit or shoot someone so they fall down.The journalist took the politician down with her difficult questions. To humble or humiliate someone, to lower/reduce in power.

She took down John’s number so she could call him back. He took down the book from the top of the bookcase.Īfter the music festival, they took down the stage.

Reach up and get something from a high place.

For example, “He’s so arrogant! I’d like to take him down a notch”. In British English the phrases ‘to take down a notch’ or ‘to take down a peg’ are commonly used in conversation to express lowering/reducing someone in power. Playing that game took me back to my childhood. He cheated on her but she finally took him back.

Admitting something you said/thought was wrong.

The dress was too tight so I took it back to the shop.

Return something to the place you bought it.

He became very aggressive so we called the police and they took him away.

Bring someone from their home to an institution.

The drunken fight after the party took away from the celebration.

To reduce the positive effect of something.

What I took away from that film is that neither side wins in a war.

To get a piece of information or message from something.

To buy food from a restaurant and eat it elsewhere.

They took away my passport so I can’t travel. Take that table away as we don’t need it in here.

To criticise something (British English).

They will take our report apart and then give us feedback.

Showing the weakness of an argument or an idea.

Take something apart or separate something into its different parts.He takes after his father’s side of the family. To be similar to someone in appearance or character, especially a family member.His voice was so loud that it took us aback at first. To surprise or shock someone (old-fashioned, rare).* Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘take’ 16 phrasal verbs with ‘take’ (with example sentences)

Complete phrasal verb book pdf