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Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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. • Would you 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., Phrase(s): 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.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
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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.
American Heritage Idioms