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Phrase(s): take something up (with someone)
to raise and discuss a matter with someone. • This is a very complicated problem. I’ll have to take it up with the office manager. • She’ll take up this problem with the owner in the morning., Phrase(s): take something up
1. [for someone or a group] to deliberate something. • When will the board of directors take this up? • Let’s take up that matter now. 2. to raise something, such as the height of a hem. • The skirt is too long. I’ll have to take it up. • Can you take up this skirt for me? 3. to continue with something after an interruption. • They took it up where they left off. • Let’s take up this matter at the point we were at when we were interrupted. • We must take up our work again. 4. to begin something; to start to acquire a skill in something. (See also take something up (with someone).) • When did you take this hobby up? • I took up skiing last fall. 5. to absorb something. • This old sponge doesn’t take much water up. • It used to take up more. 6. to adopt something new. • I see you’ve taken a new lifestyle up. • Toby took up the life of a farmer., Phrase(s): take someone up
to discuss or deal with someone. (See also take something up.) • What are we going to do about Bill? Are we going to take Bill up today at the board meeting? • Let’s take up the applicants in our next meeting.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Raise, lift, as in We have to take up the old carpet and sand the floor. [c. 1300] 2. Reduce in size, shorten, tighten, as in I have to take up the hem of this coat, or You have to take up the slack in that reel or you'll never land a fish. [c. 1800] 3. Station oneself, settle in, as in We took up our positions at the front. [Mid-1500s] 4. Accept an option, bet, or challenge, as in No one wanted to take up that bet. This usage is often expanded to take someone up on, as in You're offering to clean the barn? I'll take you up on that. Take up dates from about 1700, the variant from the early 1900s. 5. Develop an interest in, begin an activity, as in Jim took up gardening. [Mid-1400s] Also see GO INTO, def. 3. 6. Use up or occupy entirely, as in The extra duties took up most of my time, or This desk takes up too much space in the office, or How much room will your car take up? [c. 1600] 7. Begin again, resume, as in I'll take up the story where you left off. [Mid-1600s] 8. Deal with, as in Let's take up these questions one at a time. [c. 1500] 9. Absorb, as in These large trees are taking up all the water in the soil. [Late 1600s] 10. Support, adopt as a protege, as in She's always taking up one or another young singer. [Late 1300s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with TAKE UP.
American Heritage Idioms