A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note: 
Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the
phrase take count—
1
. = take a count: The U.S. Census Bureau
took count of how many grandparents are raising grandchil-
dren. 2. pay attention to smth.; take smth. into consideration:
The model takes count of the thermodynamical characteristics
of the sea surface.
take a dive • take a nose-dive
take a dive —
1
. (of a plane) make a sudden precipitate de -
scent: The plane took a dive and disappeared underneath a
mushroom-shaped cloud. 2. go into a rapid decline: By 
1
0:30
the company’s stock had taken a dive from more than $
11
0
dollars a share to just over $40. 3. (Boxing ) fake being knocked
out in a match: He took a dive in the second round and made
everyone suspicious. 4. (U.S. Underworld) get arrested (also:
take a fall): I didn’t want to take a dive, but the cop left me
no choice.
take a nose-dive—
1
. = take a dive 
1
: The small plane took a
nose dive. The pilot was able to bring it out at the last minute,
so the plane didn’t crash. 2. = take a dive 2: After a really
splendid first week, the Festival took a nosedive from which
it never recovered.
take a fall • take the fall
take a fall —
1
. lose one’s balance and drop to the ground:
When I took a fall and hurt my arm, Michele called me at
home to see how I was. 2. (U.S. Underworld) be arrested (also:
take a dive): Jack had taken a fall on a safe job and was in the
Bronx County jail awaiting trial.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase take a drop—
1
. (of stocks, temperature, etc.) lose value;
decrease: There is no guarantee that the account might not be
worth less than your original investment if the market has
taken a drop. 2. (coll.) have a drink: All theatrical people, and
even the great Edmund Kean, used to take a drop before com-
mencing performance. Cf.: take a drop too much —(coll.) be
rather drunk: If Henry took a drop too much he had always
the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that he was driven to
it.
take the fall —(coll.) take the blame for another person;
become a scapegoat: Bob will take the fall for the director —
he’d do anything to save his boss.