take on oneself
take upon oneself
To accept as a duty or responsibility.
He took it on himself to see that the packages were delivered.
To assume wrongfully or without permission as a right or privilege.
You should not have taken it upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family.
take up arms
To get ready to fight; fight or make war.
The people were quick to take up arms to defend their freedom.
The President called on people to take up arms against poverty.
take up the cudgels for
To come to the defense of; to support or fight for.
He was the first to take up the cudgels for his friend.
take up with
To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot of.
Frank has taken up with Lucy lately.
To consult someone about an important matter.
The important matter follows the verb take, while the person consulted follows with.
The important matter follows the verb take, while the person consulted follows with.
Can I take the problem up with you right now? It’s quite urgent.
I can’t help you with this matter. You’ll have to take it up with the manager.
take up
To remove by taking in.
Use a blotter to take up the spilled ink.
When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug.
To fill or to occupy space, time, or energy.
All his evenings were taken up with study.
The oceans take up the greater part of the earth's surface.
The mayor has taken up residence on State Street.
The piano takes up too much space in our living room. However, it would take too much time up to move it right now so we’d better wait until later.
To gather together; collect.
We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital.
To take away.
John had his driver's license taken up for speeding.
To begin; start.
The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday.
After today’s exam, the class will be ready to take up the last chapter in the book.
To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby.
He recently took up gardening.
He took up the carpenter's trade as a boy.
To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten.
The tailor took up the legs of the trousers.
Take up the slack on the rope!
To take or accept something that is offered.
The boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up.
I took John up on his bet.