take to
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To begin or start doing something habitually: To develop a new habit, often one that is regular or persistent.
- To develop a liking or fondness for someone or something: To begin to like a person, activity, or thing.
Usage and Examples
Verb (Develop a habit):
- After retiring, he took to gardening every morning. (He started the regular activity of gardening.)
- She took to waking up at dawn after her trip. (She developed the habit of waking up early.)
Verb (Develop a liking):
- The children took to their new teacher immediately. (The children began to like their teacher quickly.)
- I didn't take to the idea at first, but now I see its value. (I did not initially like the idea.)
Advanced Usage
- "Take to something like a duck to water": To learn to do something or to adapt to a new situation very easily and naturally.
- She had never skied before, but she took to it like a duck to water. (She learned skiing very easily and naturally.)
Variants and Related Words
- Take up: To begin a new hobby or activity. (Note: This is a separate phrasal verb).
- He took up painting last year.
Synonyms
- Develop a habit of: Begin a regular practice.
- Warm to: Begin to like or feel affection for.
- Cotton to (informal): Take a liking to.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Take after: To resemble a family member.
- He takes after his father in looks.
- Take against: To begin to dislike someone or something.
- For some reason, she took against the proposal immediately.
Related Idioms
- Take to one's heels: To run away.
- When the alarm sounded, the thieves took to their heels.
- Take to the road: To begin a journey.
- The band took to the road for their national tour.
Verb
- develop a habit; apply oneself to a practice or occupation
- She took to drink
- Men take to the military trades
- have a fancy or particular liking or desire for
- She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window