take the rap
To receive punishment; to be accused and punished.
All of the boys took apples, but only John took the rap.
Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went to prison for two years.
take the stage
To walk onto a stage, as to begin a performance, deliver a speech, etc.
Our band took the stage to perform our new song for the audience.
I've spoken in front of countless audiences, but I still get extremely nervous before I take the stage for a presentation.
To be or become the main or central focus.
My wedding was supposed to be my special day, but my sister and her stupid boyfriend took the stage when he proposed to her at the wedding reception.
I really don't want our production issues to take the stage during the investors' meeting.
take the stand
To assume one's position in the witness box during a trial.
The judge asked the defendant to take the stand.
take the starch out of
To make (someone) feel weak or tired.
The hot weather took the starch out of Mrs. Jones, and she didn't feel like doing a thing.
The cross-country run took all the starch out of the boys.
To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error.
Don't let a silly performance review take the starch out of you like that - you've got to have confidence in your own work.
His rejection from the literary magazine really took the starch out of Tom.
take the stump
take to the stump
To travel around to different places making political speeches.
The men running for president took to the stump to attract votes.
take the words out of one's mouth
To say what another is just going to say; to put another's thought into words.
"Let's go to the beach tomorrow." "You took the words right out of my mouth; I was thinking of that."
I was going to suggest a movie, but she took the words out of my mouth and said she would like to see one.
take time off
have off
have time off
To have free time, not to have to work (also: to take time off.
To take time off is used when someone makes a decision to have free time, sometimes when others might not agree with the decision.
To take time off is used when someone makes a decision to have free time, sometimes when others might not agree with the decision.
If I had some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I promised to my family.
Every morning the company workers have time off for a coffee break.
Several workers took the afternoon off to go to a baseball game.
take to heart
lay to heart
To be seriously affected by; to feel deeply.
He took his brother's death very much to heart.
He took his friend's advice to heart.