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

take kindly of someone • take kindly to someone
take kindly of someone —(also: take it kindly of someone)
accept smth. done by a person as a kindness or favor: I would
take it kindly of you to move your car from in front of my
house.
take kindly to someone —be attracted to or pleased with a
person: They don’t take kindly to me and so I suppose I’m
not generous enough to take kindly to them.
take needles • take the needle
take needles —receive treatment by injections: Two of them
have type one diabetes, and have to take needles three times
a day or more.
take the needle —(U.S. Drug users) begin taking drugs by
injection: They ended up taking the needle and catching some
disease.
take note of something • take notes of something
take note of something —(also: take notice of something ) take
smth. seriously; pay close attention to smth.: I had to start
taking some note of political developments.
take notes of something —write smth. down so that one can
refer to it later: Concentrate more on understanding and tak-
ing notes of key points.
take one’s hour • take one’s time
take one’s hour —use an approximate period of time that one
may need: Almost everything should be covered in the writing
guide, so take your hour or two, and read it.
take one’s time —
1
. not hurry; be slow and careful: Just take
your time and tell me clearly what happened. 2. (sarcastic) use
more time than is reasonable: The workmen are certainly tak-
ing their time over the job.
See also: take the time / take time.
take one’s life in both hands • take one’s life in
one’s hands
take one’s life in both hands —(also: take one’s life with both
hands) take control of one’s life instead of just letting things
happen: Lélio is determined henceforth to take his life in both
hands, but the past casts its shadow even now.
take one’s life in one’s hands —risk losing one’s life: You take
your life in your hands simply crossing the road these days!