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

take charge of someone • take someone in charge
take charge of someone —assume the care of a person; attend
to smb.’s needs: Bee was not well for a while, so I took charge
of the babe.
take someone in charge —arrest a person; take smb. into cus-
tody: The constable called at Mr. Johnson’s house and took
him in charge.
See also: put someone in charge / put someone on a charge.
take five • take the fifth
take five —(coll.) take a short rest period: Hey, Bob. I’m
tired. Can we take five?
take the fifth—
1
. (U.S. legal) refuse to testify appealing to
the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution: Accused criminals
can “take the fifth” without fear of reprisal. 2. (coll.) decline
to answer a question: I’ll take the fifth on that one. Ask Fred.
See also: give someone five / give someone high five.
take ground • take the ground
take ground —
1
. (of ships) run aground: The Flying Scud took
ground on a bank of sand and coral about twenty minutes
before five. 2. (Military) take up a certain position: Uncer-
tainty was at last removed, by his marching towards Arcot,
and taking ground before it.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase take earth—(of hunted animals) go into a hiding place:
Follow yonder fellow, and see where he takes earth.
take the ground —
1
. = take ground 
1
: The pilot was about to
adjust course when the ship took the ground. 2. assert one’s
point of view: Mortillet took the ground that the flints found
in Merovingian graves were either “strike-a-lights” or amulets.
take heart at something • take something to heart
take heart at something —(also: take heart from something )
become more confident or encouraged by smth.: “I would have
said the same of you,” he added wryly, and took heart at hear-
ing Hugh laugh.
take something to heart—(also: take something to one’s heart)
1
. consider smth. seriously; be affected by smth.: If you take
this advice to heart, you will improve your singing a lot. 2.
grieve or worry about smth.: She is a very sensitive person,
who takes her troubles and disappointments to heart.