five minutes, or else. She told them to
take five, but they turned the five into fifty.take ittv. to endure something, physically
or mentally. (See also take it on the
chin.) I just can’t take it anymore. If
you can’t take it, quit.
Take it down a thou(sand)!exclam. Cool
down!; Calm down!; Quiet down!
Okay. Take it down a thousand, and let’s
talk this out. You are wild! Take it down
a thou and let’s try again to talk this out.
take it easy 1. tv. relax and take care.
See you later. Take it easy. They told me
to take it easy for a few days. 2. exclam.
Let up!; Not so hard!; Be gentle! (Usually
Take it easy!) Take it easy! That hurts!
Take it easy; he’s just a kid!
take it on the chin and take it on the
nose 1. tv. to stand up to something ad-
verse, such as criticism. They laid some
rude chops on him, but he took it on the
chin. I knew he could take it on the nose.
- tv. to receive the full brunt of some-
thing. Why do I have to take it on the
chin for something I didn’t do? If you
did it, you have to learn to take it on the
chin.
take it on the lamtv. to get out of town;
to run away. (Underworld.) Both took
it on the lam when things got hot. Bruno
knew that the time had come to take it on
the lam.
take it on the noseGo to take it on the
chin.
Take it or leave it.sent. There are no other
choices.; It is this or nothing. This is
what you get for the money. Take it or leave
it. I told her that there was a shortage
of these things and she had to take it or
leave it.
take it out on someone or somethingtv.
to punish or harm someone or something
because one is angry or disturbed about
something. I’m sorry about your diffi-
culty, but don’t take it out on me. Don’t
take it out on the cat.
take it slowtv. to go slowly and carefully.
Just relax and take it slow. You’ve got a
good chance. You’ll make it. Take it slow
and keep your spirits up.
take it through the nosetv. to snort co-
caine. (Drugs. A play on take it on the
noseat take it on the chin.) Max liked
taking it through the nose better than any-
thing, except maybe a shot in the arm.
He went into the john, and most of us
knew he had to take it through the nose
right then.
take it to the streettv. to tell everyone
about your problems. (See also on the
street.) If there’s something bothering
her, she’s gonna take it to the street, first
thing. Come on, don’t take it to the
street.
taken and had; took 1. mod. cheated; de-
ceived. I counted my change, and I
knew I was taken. You were really took,
all right. 2. mod. drug intoxicated; un-
conscious from drugs. The guy in the
corner booth was taken and crying in his
beer. His eyes were bloodshot, his hands
were shaking—he was had. 3. mod. dead.
I’m sorry, your cat is taken—pifted.
Your cat’s took, lady, tough luck. 4. mod.
already claimed as someone’s mate or
lover. Sorry, Bill, I’m already taken.
Sam and I are engaged. Forget it. She’s
taken.
take namestv. to make a list of wrongdo-
ers. (Often figuratively, as with a school-
teacher, whose major weapon is to take
names and send them to the principal.)
The boss is madder than hell, and he’s
taking names. Gary is coming by to talk
about the little riot last night, and I think
he’s taking names.
take off 1. in. [for someone] to leave in a
hurry. She really took off outa there.
I’ve got to take off—I’m late. 2. in. [for
something] to start selling well. The
f luffy dog dolls began to take off, and we
sold out the lot. Ticket sales really took
off after the first performance. 3. n. an im-
itation of something; a copy of some-
thing. (Usually take-off.) This robot is
capable of producing 200 circuit board
take-offs per hour. My machine is a
take-off of the real thing. 4. n. a parody of
someone or something. (Usually with on.take it