take up|take Idiom, Proverb

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take up|take

v. 1. To remove by taking in. Use a blotter to take up the spilled ink. When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug. 2. To fill or to occupy. All his evenings were taken up with study. The oceans take up the greater part of the earth's surface. The mayor has taken up residence on State Street. 3. To gather together; collect. We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital. 4. To take away. John had his driver's license taken up for speeding. 5a. To begin; start. The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday. 5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby. He recently took up gardening. He took up the carpenter's trade as a boy.
Compare: GO INTO³, GO IN FOR, TAKE TO. 6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. The tailor took up the legs of the trousers. Take up the slack on the rope!
Compare: TAKE IN³. 7. To take or accept something that is offered. The boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up. I took John up on his bet.
Compare: JUMP AT.

take up|take

v. 1. To abolish by demography in. Use a blotter to booty up the agitated ink. When the exhaustion cleaner bag is full, it will not booty up clay from the rug. 2. To ample or to occupy. All his evenings were taken up with study. The oceans booty up the greater allotment of the earth's surface. The ambassador has taken up abode on State Street. 3. To accumulate together; collect. We are demography up a accumulating to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital. 4. To booty away. John had his driver's authorization taken up for speeding. 5a. To begin; start. The abecedary took up the assignment area she larboard off yesterday. 5b. To activate to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby. He afresh took up gardening. He took up the carpenter's barter as a boy.
Compare: GO INTO³, GO IN FOR, TAKE TO. 6. To cull and accomplish bound or shorter; shorten. The clothier took up the legs of the trousers. Take up the baggy on the rope!
Compare: TAKE IN³. 7. To booty or acquire article that is offered. The bang-up offered me a $5 accession and I took him up. I took John up on his bet.
Compare: JUMP AT. Dictionary