take cover
To seek shelter or protection.
The rain began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway.
take down a notch
take down a peg
To make (someone) less proud or sure of himself.
The team was feeling proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a bad defeat.
take down
To write or record (what is said).
I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down.
To pull to pieces; take apart.
It will be a big job to take that tree down.
In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down.
We should take the pictures down from the wall and clean off the dust.
To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble.
Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down.
The secretary took down everything that was said at the meeting.
take effect
To have an unexpected or intended result; cause a change.
It was nearly an hour before the sleeping pill took effect.
To become lawfully right, or operative.
The new tax law will not take effect until January.
take exception to
To speak against; find fault with; be displeased or angered by; criticize.
There was nothing in the speech that you could take exception to.
Did she take exception to my remarks about her cooking.
take five
To take a five-minute break during some work or theatrical rehearsal.
"All right, everyone," the director cried. "Let's take five."
take for a ride
take someone for a ride
To take out in a car intending to murder.
The gang leader decided that the informer must be taken for a ride.
To play a trick on; fool. To cheat or swindle someone.
The girls told Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride.
Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride.
To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain.
His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating her.
To kill someone after kidnapping.
The criminals took the man for a ride.
take for granted
To suppose or understand to be true. To assume to be true without giving much thought; not to appreciate fully.
Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his wife.
A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework.
He spoke English so well that I took it for granted he was an American.
He took for granted that I wasn't American because I spoke English so poorly!
John took his wife for granted until once when he was very sick and needed her constant attention for a week.
To accept or become used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything.
George took for granted all that his parents did for him.
No girl likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better.