take in
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take in
1. To absorb and comprehend some information. A noun or pronoun can be used between "take" and "in." I know it's a lot to take in, so let me know if you have any questions. I wasn't able to take every detail in, but I got the gist of it.
2. To admit someone into one's care or employment. A noun or pronoun can be used between "take" and "in." My aunt took in my brother and me when our parents died. The firm was kind enough to take me in as a legal aide while I was working on my law degree.
3. To offer someone or an animal shelter or care. A noun or pronoun can be used between "take" and "in." My wife has a bad habit of taking in stray dogs. We're already taking in more guests than we're supposed to, so I don't know where you think we'll fit 10 more!
4. To collect as profit or earnings. A noun or pronoun can be used between "take" and "in." We took more in this month than we did all of last year! Managers are instructed to reprimand staff who don't take in at least $1,000 of sales every day.
5. To breathe or inhale something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "take" and "in." I'm eager to get out of the city and take in some mountain air! He's taken a lot of smoke in—he needs medical attention right away.
See also: take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
take (someone, something, or an animal) in(side)
to transport someone, something, or an animal to shelter or inside something. Please take your little brother in. It's starting to rain. Take the dog inside when you go.
See also: take
take someone in
1. to give someone shelter. (See also take something in.) Do you think you could take me in for the night? I don't take in strangers.
2. Go to suck someone in.
See also: take
take something in
1. to reduce the size of a garment. This is too big. I'll have to take it in around the waist. I'll have to take in these pants.
2. to view and study something; to attend something involving viewing. The mountains are so beautiful! I need an hour or so to take it all in. I want to sit here a minute and take in the view. Wouldyou like to take in a movie?
3. to receive money as payment or proceeds. How much did we take in today? The box office took nearly a thousand dollars in within just the last hour.
4. to receive something into the mind, usually visually. Could you take those explanations in? I couldn't. I could hardly take in everything she said.
5. to inhale, drink, or eat something. I think I'll go for a walk and take some fresh air in. Jane was very ill, but she managed to take in some fresh air from the open window.
6. Go to take something into some place.
See also: take
take someone or an animal in
to provide shelter for someone or an animal. When I needed a place to live, my uncle took me in. Mrs. Wilson took in the lonely little dog and gave it a loving home.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
take in
1. Admit, receive as a guest or employee, as in They offered to take in two of the orphaned children. [First half of 1500s]
2. Reduce in size, make smaller or shorter, as in I've lost some weight so I'll have to take in my clothes. [Early 1500s]
3. Include or constitute, as in This list takes in all the members, past and present. [Mid-1600s]
4. Understand, as in I couldn't take in all that French dialogue in the movie. [Second half of 1600s]
5. Deceive, swindle, as in That alleged fundraiser took me in completely. [First half of 1700s]
6. Look at thoroughly, as in We want to take in all the sights. [First half of 1700s]
7. Accept work to be done at home, as in His grandmother took in washing to support her children. [First half of 1800s]
8. Receive as proceeds, as in We had a good audience; how much did we take in? [Late 1800s] Also see the following entries beginning with take in.
See also: take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
take in
v.
1. To allow something to enter or flow in: The boat took in 40 gallons of water before we could fix the leak. Roots take nutrients in from the soil.
2. To admit someone. Used of institutions: The academy takes in only four new students per year. The university took the transfer student in.
3. To have someone or something live or lodge in one's house: We took in several refugees during the war. The foster family took the runaway in.
4. To deliver something or someone to a place of treatment or repair: The car's brakes aren't working well, so we have to take it in.
5. To convey someone who has been arrested to a police station: If the police find out that your driver's license has expired, they will take you in. They took in that suspect who jumped bail.
6. To include or constitute something: The United States takes in the land north of Mexico and south of Canada.
7. To understand or appreciate something that one is hearing or experiencing: I couldn't take in everything they said. I went to the countryside and took in the beauty of the landscape. The lecture was so profound that I couldn't take it all in.
8. To deceive or swindle someone. Used chiefly in the passive: I was taken in by a confidence artist.
9. To accept some work to be done in one's house for pay: Why don't you take in a typing job to get extra money for school?
10. To make some article of clothing smaller, narrower, or shorter: I took in the waist on that pair of pants. The tailor took the shorts in.
See also: take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
take someone in
1. and rope someone in tv. to cheat or deceive someone. He might try to rope you in. Keep an eye on him and count your change.
2. tv. to give shelter to someone. We took her in and gave her some soup and a place to stay.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.