take steps
To begin to make plans or arrangements; make preparations; give orders. Usually used with to and an infinitive.
The city is taking steps to replace its streetcars with busses.
take stock in
take no stock in
To have faith in; trust; believe. Usually used in the negative.
He took no stock in the idea that women were better cooks than men.
They took little or no stock in the boy's story that he had lost the money.
Do you take any stock in the gossip about Joan?
take stock
To count exactly the items of merchandise or supplies in stock; take inventory.
The grocery store took stock every week on Monday mornings.
To study carefully a situation, or a number of possibilities or opportunities.
During the battle the commander paused to take stock of the situation.
take the bit in one's mouth
take the bit in one's teeth
To have your own way; take charge of things; take control of something.
When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her.
take the bread out of one's mouth
To take away or not give your rightful support, especially through selfish pleasure.
She accused her husband of drinking and gambling - taking bread out of his children's mouths.
take the bull by the horns
To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty.
"Взять быка за рога"; смело действовать в трудной ситуации; предпринимать действия не заботясь о последствиях.
He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job.
After three years of faithful service, Jake decided to take the bull by the horns and ask his boss for a raise.
Vic has been engaged to Laura for a long time now, and I know that he loves her. He should take the bull by the horns and ask her to marry him.
take the cake
To take the first prize; be the best; rank first.
Mr. Jones takes the cake as a storyteller.
To be the limit; to be the worst; have a lot of nerve; be a very rude, bold, or surprising action.
Быть на грани, быть худшим, требовать большого нервного напряжения; быть грубым, наглым.
I let Jack borrow my baseball and he never gave it back. Doesn't that take the cake?
For being absent-minded, Mr. Smith takes the cake.
The behavior of the young girl takes the cake. It is terrible.
Поведение девочки превосходит все. Оно ужасно.
take the defensive
Put himself in protective position.
Thus we see that, although we seek the offensive initially, we may be forced to take the defensive at some stage of the battle and pass to the counteroffensive at the right moment.